Ban Smoking in Cars Carrying Children, Part II

Part I visit here

Banning Smoking in Cars with under legal age children is taking center stage these days. Provinces across this great country are starting to take action… but not all. At least not yet.

The first province to set precedence of banning smoking in cars with children under the age of 18 was Nova Scotia. Effective April 1st 2008, it is now illegal to smoke in cars that carry anyone under the age of 18. This is the latest anti-smoking campaign that is sweeping across Canada and picking up considerable political willpower along the way.

Ontario’s Premier, Dalton McGuinty, finally admitted that his initial feelings on the issue have changed. After calling such a ban a “slippery slope” late last year, McGuinty said yesterday in an announcement at Sick Kids hospital he’s had a change of heart.

With the backing of Canadian Cancer Society, The Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Ontario Medical Association and the Ontario Lung Association, which were all quick to praise the government.“The car is already a regulated environment with specific rules for seatbelts and child seats, so the amendment is not the ‘slippery slope’ as some have suggested or feared,” Heart and Stroke chief executive Rocco Rossi said in a statement.

Legislation aimed at banning smoking in cars in Ontario where there are children age 16 and under will be introduced this spring, McGuinty said.“I changed my mind and I think this is the right thing to do,” he said. “I think it’s the right thing to do for our kids.”

If passed, the legislation could become law this year. Ontario would be the second province after Nova Scotia to enact such a ban. It’s been suggested the likely punishment for offenders in Ontario would be a fine of up to $200. But he also stressed such details need to be worked out.

But this movement forward isn’t without its’ nay-sayers. Critics pounced on the government—charging such a ban would be the first step toward outlawing smoking in private homes.“The problem is that if you want to criminalize parents who want to smoke in cars with kids, then what?” charged Arminda Mota, president of MyChoice, a smokers’ advocacy group funded by Imperial Tobacco. “Because it’s a fact that if a person smokes in a car with a child present, it’s obvious that person will smoke at home in the presence of their children. This is absolutely just a stepping stone to go into peoples’ homes and regulate behaviour.”

McGuinty rejected that notion. “The step that we are taking has to do with children in cars and we have no plans to go beyond that,” McGuinty said.

Canada-wide is a slightly different story… but this movement forward is catching momentum. Here is where the rest of Canada stands (in alphabetical order):

Alberta – not considering a ban at this time.

British Columbia – in its Throne Speech this month, the government promised to create a ban

Manitoba – under consideration; waiting & watching very closely to see what happens

New Brunswick – under considering

Newfoundland – several small communities are reportedly interested in creating a ban and the government is waiting and watching very closely.

Nova Scotia – first province in Canada to pass a province-wide ban

Prince Edward Island – although its second largest city, Summerside, adopted a motion to ban smoking in cars with kids, the government is not considering taking action on the issue.

Ontario – the Liberal government has tabled a private member’s bill to create a ban

Québec – considers the ban too invasive and considering no action at this time.

Saskatchewan – not considering a ban at this time.

The OMA has called for a province-wide ban since 2004 after a released report found that second-hand smoke inside a vehicle can be up to 23 times more toxic than inside a house.

That figure is now estimated to be double the original findings at 60 times more toxic inside a car than indoors, the OMA said.

“The impact of cigarette smoke on children is far reaching,” the statement said. “Second-hand smoke can result in immediate respiratory problems, has been associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and is a risk factor in the development of cancer and heart disease later in the child’s life.”

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, there are 4000 dangerous chemicals contained in second-hand cigarette smoke.

(quoting various online sources)