Quesnel Smoking bylaw survey results are in

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

The smoking bylaw survey results were presented to Council on August 31, 2015. The summary of the results is as follows:

·        449 Respondents;

·        67.3% support prohibiting smoking in public spaces;  

·        32.7% do not support prohibiting;

·        85% agree with focusing on areas where there have been complaints and where children gather.

·        Prohibiting Smoking was supported in the following locations by the respondents:

Playgrounds and Playing Fields                                   84%

Quesnel Youth Soccer Fields                                       81%

LeBourdais Park (including water park)                     76%

West Fraser Timber Park                                              69%

Spirit Square                                                                    57%

Fraser River Foot Bridge                                               56%

Other                                                                                45%

In total 649 comments were received.  The following is a summary of the most common comments:

262 comments provided reasons why or why not to prohibit smoking in public spaces.  

66 comments provided reasons for not prohibiting smoking in public spaces, including:  individual rights, its legal, city has other issues to deal with, and enforcement concerns.

Comments supporting prohibiting smoking in public areas referenced individual rights, health, fires, smell, and that children should not be exposed.

33 comments from people who support prohibiting smoking stated that they did not support the establishment of smoking areas.  

In response to the question “should the focus be on prohibiting smoking in areas where there have been complaints and where children gather” the most common responses were:  

·        30 felt smoking in public should be prohibited everywhere, 

·        16 felt smoking in public should only be focused on children and not in areas that have received complaints and 

·        12 people felt that if smoking is prohibited in some locations, a dedicated smoking area should be provided.

The following are the most common responses to “other areas where smoking should be restricted”:  arena entrance; sidewalks downtown, grocery stores, and schools.   

Demographics of Survey:

62% of respondents were from the City of Quesnel, 36% were from the Cariboo Regional District, and 1% were from other.

Respondents were well dispersed through the age spectrum with the following dispersion:

1%         18 or younger

31%      19-34

45%      35-54

21%      55-74

1%         75 or older

The Policy and Bylaw Review Committee, has recommended to Council that it consider amending the proposed Bylaw by removing the regulation of e-cigarettes until other government bodies have regulated e-cigarettes/vaping (i.e. Health Canada, Provincial Government).  Further, that the proposed Bylaw include a standard clause enforcement regarding enforcement.

Further consideration of this bylaw will occur at the upcoming Council Meeting on Monday, September 28, 2015 commencing at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at Quesnel City Hall. Written submissions regarding this proposed new bylaw will be accepted at City Hall attention Director of Development Services; or alternatively, by attending the September 28th Council Meeting to consult with Council.