Ontario could become the latest province to ban people from smoking in cars carrying kids after Premier Dalton McGuinty vowed yesterday to take a "second look" at adopting legislation he once called a slippery slope.
McGuinty said he's being lobbied heavily by his minister of health promotion and a Liberal backbencher who introduced a private member's bill last year that would ban the practice.
"I've committed to them to take a second look at it," McGuinty said yesterday before attending the weekly Liberal caucus.
McGuinty once said such a ban would infringe too much on people's rights, but he appears to have changed his mind to such a degree that he's willing to consider passing Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti's bill when the Legislature resumes sitting in a couple of weeks.
Asked what factors he would weigh, McGuinty quoted a villain from the play Othello. "As Shakespeare said, `'Tis here but yet confused,' so I'm pondering."
Opposition critics say it's high time Ontario joined the ranks of other provinces by protecting children from second-hand smoke.
Nova Scotia recently banned smoking in cars carrying children. British Columbia's government promised a ban in its recent throne speech. New Brunswick and Manitoba are looking at similar bans.
Anti-smoking advocates say it's hard for Ontario to ignore the momentum building across Canada.
George Habib, president and CEO of the Ontario Lung Association, said the ban has been fast-tracked in other provinces because politicians recognize the need to protect young children.
"It's what Ontarians want," Habib said. "Our kids don't have a vote. ... Given the overwhelming evidence of the negative impact on children, this just makes a lot of sense."
Dr. Janice Willett, head of the Ontario Medical Association, said children are exposed to up to 23 times the toxins in an enclosed space like a car than in more open spaces. Opening a car window just blows the second-hand smoke into the back seat, she added.
A ban would reduce the number of kids suffering asthma, ear infections and breathing difficulties, and eventually lead to a lower incidence of heart disease and cancer, she contends.
"I'm elated that the premier is looking at doing this in the spring session," she said.
"The sooner ... the better for these children."
Progressive Conservative MPP Elizabeth Witmer (Kitchener-Waterloo) said it's time for Liberals to stop dithering on the issue, with children's health at stake.
New Democrat MPP Peter Kormos (Welland), a former smoker, said, "Little kids' lungs are only so big. We should be doing everything we can to protect children ... from exposure to second-hand smoke."
No comments:
Post a Comment