In anticipation of legal marijuana being sold across Canada later this year, a wealthy Quebec municipality has banned smoking in all public spaces.
The mayor of Hampstead, Que., a tiny but affluent community of about 7,000 people that lies within Montreal, says the new bylaw is designed to prevent second-hand smoke, diminish skunky fumes and avoid setting a 鈥渂ad example鈥� for youth.
The rule outlaws smoking anywhere outside of a private residence or vehicle. Hampstead city council accepted the bylaw Monday in a vote of five to two.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, Hampstead is the first municipality in Canada to ban public smoking outright.
William Steinberg, mayor of Hampstead, said the Liberal government鈥檚 looming cannabis legislation 鈥� which could legalize cannabis as soon as this summer 鈥� prompted the vote.
鈥淥ur town is all residential, nobody will be selling anything in our town, but we don鈥檛 want people wandering the streets smoking joints,鈥� Steinberg told 麻豆传媒 Channel on Tuesday.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want the smell, we don鈥檛 want the second-hand smoke, and we most certainly don鈥檛 want to set a bad example for young people so they will take it up.鈥�
The new rule covers cannabis and tobacco but does not ban electronic cigarettes. Anyone who breaks the bylaw can face a ticket between $250 and $1,500, a fine the mayor says was based on similar penalties set by the province.
Under the new bylaw, a person would be unable to smoke in Hampstead鈥檚 parks, streets or while strolling down the sidewalk.
Steinberg said that if someone wants to have a cigarette while walking their dog, they can do so outside of Hampstead鈥檚 borders. The community is and is surrounded by Montreal.
鈥淵ou can go walk your dog outside our community. It鈥檚, like, a block or two for most people and they鈥檒l be in Montreal or they鈥檒l be in Cote-Saint-Luc. They really don鈥檛 have to smoke in Hampstead,鈥� he said.
A public safety officer will be tasked with enforcing the smoking embargo. The mayor says that since the rule is new, the officer will 鈥減olitely鈥� inform smokers of the change and ask them to stop.
鈥淚f the person complies, that鈥檚 the end of it. Our goal isn鈥檛 to give tickets. Our goal is to have a smoke-free environment. And obviously if people refuse, then they get tickets.鈥�
The bylaw is expected to take effect in the next week.
With files from The Canadian Press
