Highlights from Day #2
Ontario Health Services Appeal and Review Board Hearing in Kenora examining the Northwestern Health Unit’s smoking ban.
Wednesday March 26th
Morning
Dryden City Council’s smoking bylaw was one of the issues raised.
Councilor Joe Delany told the Hearing that the bylaw was not intented to address the effects of second-hand smoke but to protect youths from smoke.
Delany added that while second-hand smoke might be responsible for cancer in some people he also belives cancer can be caused by the emissions from the paper mill.
Afternoon
Northwestern Health Unit calls Dr. Val Mann who says exposure to second-hand smoke in Northwestern Ontario is about 8% higher then the rest of the province.
Dr. Mann went on to say that the life expectancy is 4 to 5 years less in the region then the rest of the province and the leading cause of death is cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory illness.
12,000 in this region exposed to second hand smoke.
Lawyer for 19 Bar-Restaurant owners argued that the Health Unit overstepped its boundaries by imposing a smoking ban.
He says provincial regulations allow the Health Unit to promote and work with businesses to become smoke free not impose a smoking ban.
He doesn’t think the Health Unit has demonstrated their was a need to deem second-hand smoke as a health hazard.
Hearing wraps up Thursday in Kenora before going to Toronto next month.
