Judge denies bid to pause hookah ban enforcement

A request to pause the enforcement ofthe City of Ottawa's hookah banwhile a lawsuit is before the courts was denied Tuesday morning.

A group of business owners filed a lawsuit against the city in April, the same month the city started enforcing its newban against smoking waterpipesin public places.

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The businesses are arguing the bylaw violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms because it is discriminatory against Arab and Middle Eastern people, who consider smoking waterpipes an important part of their culture.

Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, who is representing the businesses,said Tuesday the owner of a Lebanese restaurant included in the lawsuit haslost tens of thousands of dollars worth of business because people can't smoke there anymore.

While that broader question is debated, the ownerswanted to pause enforcement of the ban.

On Tuesday Justice Pierre Roger denied at the Ottawa courthouse, saying for now the public health interests outweighs the interests of the businesses.

The legaldebate over whether to end the hookah ban for good is scheduled to resume in February.