Calgary's Smoking By-Law

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Neeper

Why the **** can't these people just get it? Smoking is disgusting. It kills. It affects people who are exposed to it. It could kill them and harm them. Ban it already! Everyone else has. Why are we the last ones to do it?

Because the current City Council is easily swayed by SIGs.

[SaskaBushFire]

Wow we passed that over a year ago now, almost two I think actually? Right after the Flames run it went into effect.

I remember going to Calgary, eating at Melrose and being told I couldn't smoke even out on the patio. Is it just certain places don't allow it?

[Bobblehead]

Verdict is in...

Resataurants with smoking rooms, bingos, and casinos will all still be allowed to continue as smoking facilities until the original 2008 deadline. Anti-smoking activist Robin Hauck says its a fair compromise. She says she was worried council would vote to hold off on going totally smoke-free until 2008.

I don't think they should have give Casinos and Bingo Halls exceptions, but I don't/won't go there, so whatever.

[ken0042]

I don't like that slippery slope. Now what about bars with VLTs? Or the lounge part of a casino? What is to stop a casino from becoming the next night club?

Unreal. They should have just shut it down. Period. Do it and it's done.

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by SaskaBushFire

Wow we passed that over a year ago now, almost two I think actually? Right after the Flames run it went into effect.

I remember going to Calgary, eating at Melrose and being told I couldn't smoke even out on the patio. Is it just certain places don't allow it?

No. You where aloud to smoke inside, but you where not aloud to smoke outside on the patio, because someone on the street might smell smoke in the air. Although, you could then walk out on the side walk, and smoke right beside the patio.

Stupidest law ever.

[Mccree]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I don't like that slippery slope. Now what about bars with VLTs? Or the lounge part of a casino? What is to stop a casino from becoming the next night club?

Unreal. They should have just shut it down. Period. Do it and it's done.

Yup court challenges are sure to start. Many lawyers will get rich on the indecision and flip floping of this lame ass city administration.

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Verdict is in...
I don't think they should have give Casinos and Bingo Halls exceptions, but I don't/won't go there, so whatever.

So what would be wrong with Smoking bars / clubs and non-smoking bars / clubs? Wasn't that one of the propositions? Why ban it out right? If people want to go into a smoking environment, that should be their choice. If people want to work in a smoking environment, that again, should be their choice.
If they don't want to, they have the option of going to / working in a non-smoking environment if they so choose.

[KevanGuy]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I don't think they should have give Casinos and Bingo Halls exceptions, but I don't/won't go there, so whatever.

One counter point is the effect non-smoking Bingo Halls have on the Not-For-Profits that depend on the revenue for Programs and Services. I work for a smaller charity in Edmonton that is having a very hard time keeping the doors open due to Bingo revenue being down 30% - 60%.

Im not sure if that is why Council decided to give them another year to adjust or not but it makes sense to me. I doubt most Charities had planned to have the No Smoking Bill pass Jan 07.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by arsenal

So what would be wrong with Smoking bars / clubs and non-smoking bars / clubs? Wasn't that one of the propositions? Why ban it out right? If people want to go into a smoking environment, that should be their choice. If people want to work in a smoking environment, that again, should be their choice.
If they don't want to, they have the option of going to / working in a non-smoking environment if they so choose.

That's the current situation - Smoking bars/clubs and non-smoking bars/clubs... except that there are very few non-smoking ones right now. Something about not being able to compete or some rubbish.

Their current midset is smoking or nothing... they aren't going to butt out on their own.

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by calculoso

That's the current situation - Smoking bars/clubs and non-smoking bars/clubs... except that there are very few non-smoking ones right now. Something about not being able to compete or some rubbish.

Their current midset is smoking or nothing... they aren't going to butt out on their own.

But by judging by the number of people who are for the smoking ban, a non smoking bar / club would flourish in Calgary or any city for that matter.

So don't tell me that a few non-smoking bars / clubs are whining about this because they aren't making any money. If the bar / club was any good, then it would bring in customers regardless of if they are smoking or not.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by arsenal

If people want to work in a smoking environment, that again, should be their choice.
If they don't want to, they have the option of going to / working in a non-smoking environment if they so choose.

That arguement doesn't fly IMO. Why have any standards what so ever? Why say, people on oil rigs need to wear protective equipment or their employer needs to provide it? If they don't like it, go work somewhere else.

Really....might aswell get rid of any employment standards then. People will put themselves at risk to try and improve their life or their families life by making more money. So just because they work there doesn't mean they like it or should have to put up with breathing in know cancer causing agents. Might aswell take away laws about having radio-active shielding for X-ray machines. It's not going to kill you anytime soon. Probably take years of exposure...but hey....if the nurse or doctor doesn't like it then go work somewhere else.

The only way I would support smoking inside is if it was an enclosed area and no working staff were aloud to enter while people were smoking in it. That way only the people that want to kill themselves, end up killing themselves.

[arsenal]

Rig work and working in club / bar is completely different. The safety standards are there to protect the companies investment, as much as it is to protect the workers. Those are inudstry standards that everyone in the industry has set up, or at least has a say in the process.

What you are talking about government legislation, along the lines of prohibition.

Why not stop serving alchohol drinks in a bar or pub? Someone could get drunk, and harm someone else in the process. Why not stop serving deep fried foods in a pub? Fried food is bad for you, makes you fat.
Why not ban people from having sex? That can kill you, not imediately, but possibly at somepoint down the line.

What about the people that currently work in the bars / pubs, i would say 70 - 90 % smoke. Or the people that are employees of the casino / bingo hall. Again, probably 70 - 90 % of them smoke.

Being exposed to cigarette smoke for a few hours one night a year, while being a volunteer at the casino is not going to give you cancer.

And I know I am in the minority here. And that's fine. The bill will get passed, and life will go on.

[jolinar of malkshor]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by arsenal

Rig work and working in club / bar is completely different. The safety standards are there to protect the companies investment, as much as it is to protect the workers. Those are inudstry standards that everyone in the industry has set up, or at least has a say in the process.

Not far back there was jack squat for safety standards on the rigs. Safety standards have been implemented by legislation mostly through the EUB and the Employment Standards Act. Why wasn't it there before? Because it costs money to have these safety procedures. Industry would be all to happy to have no one tell them what they SHOULD have as far as safety is concerned....because then they can say "if you don't like it go somewhere else". Don't think the safety standards are in place because of the will of industry....it's not. Even with strict rules in place, a lot of companies will take short cuts to drill the fastest and the cheapest. The only reason industry has had a say in it is because the government said "we are going to implement safety standards so you can be part of it or not."

What you are talking about government legislation, along the lines of prohibition.

What? If your talking about prohibition on smoking....well....there is not a lot to compare because no where else can you get away with having your workers walk through clouds of toxic smoke all day. But if you want an example....it is prohibited to vent H2S.....You think that should be aloud? You think it should be aloud to let workers walk around constrcution sites or on the rigs without hard hats? It is against the law to do so.

Why not stop serving alchohol drinks in a bar or pub? Someone could get drunk, and harm someone else in the process. Why not stop serving deep fried foods in a pub? Fried food is bad for you, makes you fat.
Why not ban people from having sex? That can kill you, not imediately, but possibly at somepoint down the line.

If someone gets drunk and harms someone else...there are consequences. There are no consequences of having your workers walk around and get harmed by smoke. As for deep fried food....come on....that is a personal choice that harms no other person but the one digesting the food. If cigs didn't harm others....this would not even be a topic. And again with the sex....pretty pathetic comparision. They are two consenting adults hurting no others but them selves (according to you).

What about the people that currently work in the bars / pubs, i would say 70 - 90 % smoke. Or the people that are employees of the casino / bingo hall. Again, probably 70 - 90 % of them smoke.

What about the 10-30% that don't smoke. Just because 70-90% of the other people have no problem harming themselves....means it's ok to harm the other 10-30%? Right.

Being exposed to cigarette smoke for a few hours one night a year, while being a volunteer at the casino is not going to give you cancer.

I never brought up this idea....but if you want to go there fine. Your right...some people only do it once a year or once in there life. But a lot of people work there everyday or volunteer on a regular basis.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by arsenal

Why not stop serving alchohol drinks in a bar or pub? Someone could get drunk, and harm someone else in the process. Why not stop serving deep fried foods in a pub? Fried food is bad for you, makes you fat.
Why not ban people from having sex? That can kill you, not imediately, but possibly at somepoint down the line.

The problem is all of your examples can be healthy or at least harmless if done correctly. There is no way to smoke without creating toxic smoke in the air.

And I've never heard of somebody getting fat because the guy beside him was eating fried food.

Originally Posted by arsenal

What about the people that currently work in the bars / pubs, i would say 70 - 90 % smoke. Or the people that are employees of the casino / bingo hall. Again, probably 70 - 90 % of them smoke.

How about we turn those numbers around. Because it is a smokey environment we have a disproportionate number of smokers working there. I know many people who used to work in "the industry" who got out- not because the money was bad nor because they didn't like it. The number one reason was because of the second hand smoke. After a while you realize that the smoke smell that won't come out of your clothes is also in your lungs.

I used to love working at bars. But I had to get out because I knew it was killing me.

[kootenayguy9]

This city is a joke. I can't believe Casinos are still going to be allowed to allow smoking still. I guess it saves me money because Casinos in BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are so much better to go to.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by kootenayguy9

This city is a joke. I can't believe Casinos are still going to be allowed to allow smoking still. I guess it saves me money because Casinos in BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are so much better to go to.

At least you can't smoke in the poker room.

[Shawnski]

Originally Posted by Mccree

City Hall and the current bunch of aldermen are a bunch of chickens. If they gut this ammendment I will not be voting for any of them. I have sent an e-mail to both the mayor and my aldermen. I suggest you all do the same.

No offense mate but didn't both you and your brother (Lucifer CP handle) come into the Rose & Crown smoking stogies prior to the opening night game against Edmonton? None of us at the table were smoking when you two came up. We were just sitting there eating nachos.

Again, no offense, but why such a hard line when you yourself don't toe the line? Curious indeed.

[Mccree]

Originally Posted by Shawnski

No offense mate but didn't both you and your brother (Lucifer CP handle) come into the Rose & Crown smoking stogies prior to the opening night game against Edmonton? None of us at the table were smoking when you two came up. We were just sitting there eating nachos.

Again, no offense, but why such a hard line when you yourself don't toe the line? Curious indeed.

You are correct smart ass Although my brother does not post here..He is a loser.

As for me smoking a cigar..Ya I do it once and awhile, very rarely and you are right if I have such a hard stance on it then I should not have smoked in a pub. But my brother and I did some pregame drinking( well alot of drinking) and gambling so perhaps my mind was not totally clear

Anyways having a smoking ban makes my wife happier and all married men will vouch for me that a happy wife makes for a happy husband. I also just prefer to go to a place an not smell like smoke after. Unless of course I have had a few too many then all bets are off

[jolinar of malkshor]

Province-wide Smoking Ban Okayed By Caucus

If Klein would have just done this a few years back he would have saved a lot of grief. I don't think Stalmach voted infavour of it because he refused to say which way he voted.

All I have to say is about time.

http://www.770chqr.com/news/news_loc...news_local.cfm

[rockstar]

This might be a good place/time to ask how the smokers have coped with the ban as it's been about 5 months now.

Personally, I love it. You can go out to the bar, come home, and not smell like smoke. As someone who does enjoy a smoke every now and then (particularly when drinking), I think it's great having to go outside. If you're at one of the louder bars/clubs, it gives you and your ears a bit of a rest, and gives you some fresh air.

So, smokers? How has the adjustment been?