Tobacco Free Laws in Montague, Public Smoking Ban

It's taken three years, but the shaky marriage between coffee and cigarettes was snuffed out here when town council Monday night approved a tobacco free policy for town owned places. The vote was unanimous and means that smoking is prohibited on all town owned properties from the hockey rink to the marina and waterfront. No more lighting up at the waterfront and watching the ducks or even standing outside the doors of the local rink. "People knew it was coming and it's about time,'' offered Scott Bell, the president of the committee operating the Wellness Centre. "We've had nothing but trouble with butts all over the place and people having trouble recognizing the need not to smoke at the entrances." Frank Morrison, with the Council for a Smoke Free P.E.I., said Montague has taken a long time to initiate a tobacco free policy, but the end result is welcomed. "We have about 25 per cent of Island communities still working on such policies," he said from the town hall gallery after the vote was taken. "So it is slowly becoming the norm. Smoking tobacco is a killer." Morrison said he receives complaints at least once a week from people who either walk through clouds of smoke into recreational facilities or abhor the mess of cigarette butts around public buildings. "We have about 25 per cent of Island communities still working on such policies," - Frank Morrison, with the Council for a Smoke Free P.E.I. "I'm simply interested in health living,'' he said. "And while I never thought I would see smoking gone from public places in my lifetime, I believe it's possible within the next 10 years." Bell said the publicity over the tobacco free policy for Montague has generated great debate and interest. Montague was one of the last holdouts. "I think in the long run, people who do smoke are taking heed of this policy and considering changes in their own lifestyle." Coun. John MacFarlane said the tobacco free policy has been delayed because it's always been an issue regarding tromping on the rights of people. He said smoking is no longer a right when it impedes on the enjoyment of others. "The so called rights of people cause many problems in the world,'' said Bell. "Smoking is not a right.... just like you don't have the right to yell and scream at the referee in a hockey game."