TORONTO - The Canadian Cancer Society says Canadians are ready to support laws banning smoking in cars carrying young people.
The society commissioned a poll that suggests the vast majority of Canadians -- and even a solid majority of Canadians who smoke -- would support the idea.
Last month, Nova Scotia became the first province to legislate a ban on smoking in cars carrying children, after the town of Wolfville, N.S., passed a municipal bylaw banning the practice in November.
Rob Cunningham, a senior policy analyst for the cancer society, said in a statement that the response to its poll suggests the country would support similar legislation elsewhere.
"We believe the Nova Scotia legislation is the start of a groundswell of change across Canada,'' said Cunningham.
"With the support of Canadians firmly behind us, the society will continue to work hard to make sure this important health legislation is adopted by other provinces and municipalities across Canada.''
Private members' bills aimed at banning smoking in vehicles carrying children have been introduced in the past couple of months in British Columbia and Ontario as well.
The poll for the Cancer Society, conducted Dec. 12 to Jan. 3 by Environics, suggests 82 per cent of Canadians agreed that smoking should be prohibited in cars transporting children and teenagers under the age of 18.
Among smokers who responded to the telephone survey, 69 per cent supported the idea.
A total of 2,032 Canadians took part in the poll. It is considered accurate to within plus or minus 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
