Councillor to push for Churchill Square smoking ban

Coun. Michael Walters plans to put his proposal for a Churchill Square smoking ban to a vote on Wednesday.

While the square is not covered under provincial no-smoking laws, council could make it a smoke free zone under the Municipal Government Act, according to city administration.

Walters plans to bring the idea forward at Community Services committee on Wednesday. If approved, the new rules would still have to go before city council.

• Should Churchill Square be smoke-free?

I just dont think its a place where people should be able to light up, Walters said on Thursday.

We have the option of putting a smoking ban thats similar, and really an extension of the ban thats around the city hall fountain.

Walters is proposing the city designate smoking areas on the perimeter of the square as a compromise with smokers.

The standard fine for lighting-up outside those areas would be about $250, but city administration said in a report that enforcement in an area as large as Churchill Square may require more by-law officers.

Smoking bans in public areas are rare, but Walters said Churchill Square is a special case.

Because its our central city square, its the kind of square that we intentionally try to draw large events that create large crowds, and family crowds, Walters said.