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 Manitoba government appears poised to take a brave step forward by implementing a smoking ban in all enclosed public places and workplaces. An all-party committee that studied the matter agreed in principle last week to bring forth a ban, a move cheered by the anti-tobacco lobby but booed by many businesses with smoking clientele. A draft report assembled by the committee includes several recommendations, including that the ban be put in place by Oct. 1, 2004 and that the province work with the hospitality industry on a plan to ease the economic and job losses that could result. The final report is expected to be available in time for the Nov. 20 throne speech, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. It will be up to Premier Gary Doer to approve or disapprove the ban. Should Doer give the legislation the green light, as many observers expect he will, Manitoba would become the first province in Canada to ban smoking at work and in public. The all-party committee was form by the province last December to study a possible Manitoba smoking ban. Winnipeg and Brandon already forbid smoking in enclosed public places.
