Vancouver bans smoking in parks

The Vancouver Park Board has voted to ban smokingat city parks andbeaches.

The park commissioners voted in favour of the ban at a board meeting Monday night,actingon a staff recommendation to ban smoking in those areas for medical and environmental reasons.

The ban takes effect Sept. 1.

No fines or penalties were passed in the bylaw, but the regulation could be amended in the future if there's not sufficient voluntary compliance, commissioners said.

Board chairman Raj Hundal says he's had a lot of support for the idea, especially from health experts.

But Robert Holmes of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association says it's nobody's business but their own if people want to smoke outside, and such a ban would be almost unenforceable.

B.C. already has laws in place banning smoking in any indoor public areas, at bus stops andnext to public doorways and windows. Vancouver also has a bylaw banning smoking on outdoor restaurant patios.