Quebec municipalities band together to support anti-smoking law

Some Quebec municipalitiesare urging the provincial government to go even further to strengthen anti-smoking regulations in the province.

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This week, public consultations will be held on Bill 44 a bill that would crack down further on tobacco products and electronic cigarettes.

It would prohibit smoking in vehicles while in the presence of someone under 16 years old, as well as ban smoking on terraces. The bill also prohibits the sale and distribution of flavoured tobacco products.

174cities involved

On Sunday, a group made up of 174municipalities passed a resolution that emphasizes the importance of adopting anti-smoking measures. Some of those municipalities includeMontreal, Sherbrooke, and Rimouski.

These municipalities are calling for the province's smoking rate to drop by 10 per cent within 10years. That goal was created by the Quebec division of the Canadian Cancer Society in partnership with the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control.

The Coalition for Tobacco Control says it welcomes the support of the municipalities.

Dr. Genevive Bois,spokeswoman for the Quebec Coalition for Tobacco Control, says she likes the proposed bill but wants to see the province go even furtherfor example, making playgrounds smoke-free zones.