Redefining Smoke Free Public Places

Provincial restrictions on the use of tobacco, vaping, and cannabis do not extend to many public spaces such as parks, outdoor gatherings, public events, and markets. Municipal governments can further restrict the use of tobacco, vaping, and cannabis with local bylaws. Our municipal Bylaw #4136 Smoke Free Outdoor Public Places prohibits smoking in the following outdoor public areas/places:

The bylaw does not include:

In 2016, Public Services Committee recommended that City Council approve the following recommendations, in principle, pending review of forthcoming legislation from other orders of government:

Urban Environment and Recreation Advisory Board supports a recommendation by the Youth Advisory Board that Council consider the following amendments to Bylaw No. 4136:

• Amend the definition of outdoor public events to include all outdoor markets and outdoor events.
• Expand the definition of smoking to include cigars, pipes, hookah pipes, or other lighted or heated devices or apparatus designed to burn or heat tobacco or any other weed of substance. This definition would encompass the use of electronic smoking devices or personal vaporizers.

In July 2021, Provincial regulations related to the use and sales of tobacco and vaping products was updated, however the regulations do not address smoking/vaping in most outdoor public spaces.

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