A trio of health groups surveyed Regina’s mayoral and council candidates about banning smoking on patios, and plan to bring the issue back to city council.
The survey was conducted by the Saskatchewan chapters of the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation, and Saskatchewan Lung Association.
Canadian Cancer Society manager of tobacco control, media, and government relations, Donna Pasiechnik, said 60 per cent of the candidates replied and the results are posted on their website.
“Saskatoon has had smoke-free patios for 14 years. Regina still doesn’t have it,” she said.
“In fact, Regina’s only one of two major cities in Canada that still allows smoking on outdoor patios.”
Pasiechnik said that according to the cancer society surveys more people in Regina would like to see increased smoke-free outdoor areas.
Some Regina pubs, like O’Hanlon’s, have already banned smoking on their patios and haven’t seen much issue.
“It’s been great. People have been enjoying their meals more. It’s been a more relaxing time, and more enjoyable for everyone I feel,” O’Hanlon’s general manager Curtis Tokarchuck said.
Once the new city council is elected and more settled, Pasichnik and her partners plan on bringing an anti-smoking bylaw pitch to council.
“We will be approaching them again, and I am confident from several candidates I spoke to that we will have a bylaw by next spring,” she said.
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