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.
Saskatchewan has a new minimum non-smoking standard for public places. Effective January 1st, 2004, non-smoking sections in the province's restaurants, bars, bingo halls, casinos, and bowling centres must be at least 60 per cent of seating capacity. This measure is part of The Tobacco Control Act, which became law in March, 2002. The Act called for a 40 per cent minimum standard for 2003, and a 60 per cent minimum for 2004. The Tobacco Control Act focuses on protecting public health by preventing young people from smoking, reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, and de-normalizing tobacco use by making it the exception rather than the rule. "The 60 per cent minimum brings us a significant step closer to a smoke-free province," Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Ross Findlater said. "Along with other aspects of The Tobacco Control Act, an increase in non-smoking seats in public places is contributing to our ongoing efforts to deal with the most important preventable cause of health problems in Saskatchewan."
