Okotoks mulls ban on smoking in cars with kids

Drivers in Okotoks, Alta.,may soon be forced to butt out when ferrying children, thanks to a ban set to be debated by town council next week.

The proposed ban means anyone caught smoking in a car with children under the age of 16 would face a fine. If the bylaw passes, the bedroom community45 kilometres southof Calgary would be the first municipality in Alberta to ban smoking in vehicles.

Town councillor Stephen Clark, who introduced the idea, told the Calgary Herald that the fines for the offence still must be determined, but would likely be $100 for a first offence and $200 for subsequent violations.

He told CBC News that a ban would protect children, who are the most vulnerable to the negative health effects of secondhand smoke.

"Babies in a back seat don't have much of a choice what air they breathe. It's really up to the parents," he said. "So we really must ensure these parents aren't endangering their health."

Clark said he hopes the Okotoks proposal catches on, noting that the recently implemented provincewide ban in Nova Scotia started with a bylaw in the town of Wolfville. He said the town council will also present the bylaw to other municipalities and towns across the province through the Alberta Urban Municipality Association.

Fellow councillor Ed Sands is less certain about implementing a ban in the municipality.

"I'm all for protecting the children," explained Sands, but "I don't want to see us contributing to a nanny state, where government looks after everything."

He said he feels that a smoking ban should be a provincial initiative, as health falls under the province's jurisdiction.

Following the Nova Scotia ban, Ontario and British Columbia have also moved to prevent smoking in cars with children. New Brunswick and Manitoba are also considering similar legislation.