BUTT-BAN PLAN BLOWN AWAY

In fact, existing bylaw could be weakened

Toronto Community Council yesterday bucked the trend and voted against a
total no-smoking bylaw.

In fact the local council recommended a weaker anti-smoking bylaw than the
one currently in place.

The council recommended that 25% of the space in bars, restaurants and
other public places be reserved for smokers.

The current bylaw -- in effect until a new megacity bylaw is passed --
stipulates that only 10% or less of space can be reserved for smokers.

Most other community councils voted last month for a full ban on smoking in
bars and restaurants by either 2001 or 2004.

"It is really a bit of a shocker," said Michael Perley, director of the
Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco.

"The council has gone in an entirely different direction, not just from the
other councils, but from even its existing bylaw," he said.

Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, who proposed the watered-down smoke
rule, said the current law isn't being enforced and there's no point
enacting even tougher legislation.

"I don't think Big Brother needs to come down and tell people what to do,"
he said.

"If people feel strongly about it, they should express themselves to the
restaurant or bar owner and get it changed to non-smoking."

The community councils' recommendations will be considered by the health
board at its June 28 meeting.

The health board is proposing a bylaw that bans smoking in all bars and
restaurants by either 2001 or 2004.

Its final recommendation will go to the full megacity council for a
decision July 7.

The Ontario Restaurant Association and the Greater Toronto Hotel
Association demonstrated a ventilation system to Toronto council they claim
removes about 90% of the toxins from a smoking area.

But Perley said no level of tobacco smoke has been found to be risk-free,
particularly to the health of bar and restaurant employees.

Hospitality industry representatives argued the potential health risk in a
ventilated system is small compared to the economic risk of banning smoking.

They said members lost $20,000-$30,000 each during the three-week period in
1996 when Toronto last tried to ban smoking.

Associate medical officer of health Dr. Monir Taha said studies show there
has been no decrease in revenue at bars and restaurants where smoking has
been banned in other areas such as in California.