Montreal bar and restaurant owner speaks out against Bill 44

MONTREAL — Quebec’s plan to ban smoking on outdoor patios isn’t popular with at least one Montreal bar and restaurant owner.

READ MORE: Quebec tables bill targeting e-cigarettes, smoking on patios

Peter Sergakis owns 40 establishments in the Montreal area and said the new rules will result in people opting to stay home at a time when business is already slumping.

View image in full screen

He predicts that business will drop by as much as 15 per cent.

Sergakis said he doesn’t believe smoking outdoors is a problem and several smokers and non-smokers interviewed on Wednesday agreed.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Non-smoker Michel Caissy said the bill won’t affect him but believes people are entitled to their freedom.

Former smoker Gilles Garand said he supports the bill but noted that smoke doesn’t bother him when outdoors; while smoker Robert Labelle said smoking outdoors doesn’t disturb anyone.

WATCH ABOVE: Dr. Genevieve Bois from the Quebec Coalition of Tobacco Control on the new legislation