If you light up in Port Coquitlam, you shouldn't be allowed to puff anywhere close to kids.
That's the thrust a motion city council is expected to consider next month, a move brought forward — and endorsed at last week's Healthy Community Committee — by Coun. Brad West.
West said he was prompted to take action after he and his wife took their young son to hometown parks this summer. At Lions Park, in particular, West was disturbed to see smokers having a drag in the playground.
"I was floored at the number of times there would be some numbskull in the children's area and having a smoke," West said yesterday (Wednesday). "Is there no common sense or decency? It makes you shake your head."
His amendment to the city's 2002 Smoking Control Bylaw calls for:
• banning smoking in outdoor public spaces including parks, playgrounds, fields and trails as well as the West Coast Express station and transit shelters;
• and doubling the smoke-free buffer zone around civic buildings, windows, vents, air intakes and places of public assembly, to 7.5 metres.
West said he's been frustrated with the lack of attention the provincial government has placed on smoking in public gathering spots.
This spring, before the May 9 vote, the Healthy Community Committee backed a recommendation from the Canadian Cancer Society to prohibit smoking in all outdoor spaces — aimed at putting pressure on Victoria; the charity seeks to expand the scope of the Provincial Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act.
But while the province remains silent on the issue, West said PoCo city hall has the power to make changes at the local level.
He wants PoCo to be in step with its neighbours to the west: Coquitlam and Port Moody both have a 7.5 m buffer around their city buildings and impose hefty fines on violators, especially during the hot months.
West said it's estimated of the 60 brush fires in PoCo this summer, 30% were caused by tossed cigarettes still burning. "To me, this is a public health and safety issue."
West said his motion will only apply to tobacco smoking; he plans to bring a bylaw amendment recommendation to council when marijuana is legalized in B.C.
Meanwhile, PoCo Fire Chief Nick Delmonico this week lifted the city's smoking and barbecue ban in city parks, trails and natural areas. His ban began last month when the extreme fire danger rating came into effect across Metro Vancouver.
