Province and Bands at Odds Over Smoking Ban

Province and Bands at Odds Over Smoking Ban

Friday, May 14, 2004 at 14:41

The chief of the Prince Albert Grand Council is speaking out about the provincial government’s decision to impose anti-smoking legislation in the province.

The law will ban smoking in all indoor public places in the province by January 1st, 2005.

Gary Merasty says he supports the move to ban smoking in public areas, but disagrees with Justice Minister Frank Quenell’s recent statement that the bylaw would be applicable on reserves.

Merasty admits it would be relatively easy for the government to enforce the bylaw on urban reserves in centres like Prince Albert, but doesn’t see how it could be enforced in isolated northern communities.