The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The mayors of Creighton and Denare Beach worry that Saskatchewan's upcoming public smoking ban will hurt the bottom line of business owners in their communities. But both Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler and Denare Beach Mayor Carl Lentowicz are hopeful any impact from the ban, which will take effect January 1, 2005, won't last long. "I'm sure probably right off the bat it may have some effect, but hopefully nothing that can't be worked through," said Mayor Fidler. "I certainly don't want to see any businesses lose business because of it. I hope it works out for the best." "I imagine it's going to have some effect until people get used to it, but to what degree, I don't know," said Mayor Lentowicz. The Tobacco Control Amendment Act, introduced last month, is on its way to becoming law with both the governing New Democratic Party and the Official Opposition, the Saskatchewan Party, in support. The act will prohibit smoking in all public places, including restaurants, bars, bingo halls, private clubs, and casinos. "Becoming a smoke-free province is an important public health step, and not an attack on businesses or communities," Health Minister John Nilson said in a press release. "It is an attack on preventable death and disease." Word of the legislation first surfaced in February, when Nilson told reporters that a smoking ban was one of his priorities. Support for the ban is strong, but many people, like mayors Fidler and Lentowicz, are concerned about the impact the move might have on restaurant and bar owners whose customers light up. Wanda Ginnell, co-owner of Raven's Roost Pub in Denare Beach, believes the ban may represent too much government interference on private enterprise. "I've never been a smoker . . . but I don't know if it's right to take away people's rights," she told The Reminder in February "If you're a private business, you should be able to run it the way you want to." Rod Gourlay, owner of RJ's Motel and Restaurant, was more supportive. See 'Both' P.# Con't from P.# "I think it's something as a society we're going to have to come to grips with," he said in February. "It is for the good of everybody." Gourlay voluntarily eliminated smoking in his restaurant two years ago, limiting the habit to the adjacent beverage room. The move certainly didn't hurt the restaurant, and while he has some concern about the impact on the beverage room, Gourlay believes things will work out. "Once everybody is on the same playing surface, it will be just fine," he said. As an ex-smoker, Mayor Fidler said he sees both sides of the issue. "I believe that everybody has the right to smoke if they're going to smoke, but on the same token, I support the people who have the right to have a smoke-free environment," he said. The Manitoba government will implement a similar ban three months ahead of Saskatchewan on October 1. A phone survey conducted by The Reminder in March indicated that twice as many Flin Flonners support a ban than do not. Of 41 residents phoned at random, 24 (58.5 per cent) were in favour, with 12 (29.3 per cent) opposed. Of the remaining five respondents, four (9.8 per cent) said it didn't matter to them one way or the other, and one (2.4 per cent) was undecided. Asked about their position, supporters tended to state that second-hand smoke is unhealthy and bothersome, and a ban might result in fewer people opting to light up. Opponents generally felt that a ban would represent excessive government control and could be a slippery slope Ñ if smoking is banned, will something else be next? Not everyone answered based on their own habits, as several smokers said they support the ban and several non-smokers opposed.
