Scott In A Dilemma Over On-Reserve Smoking

Scott In A Dilemma Over On-Reserve Smoking

Friday, January 14, 2005 at 15:06

Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott says he will decide next week what to do about Saskatchewan’s on-reserve smoking controversy.

The provincial government is urging Scott to reject applications for on-reserve smoking bylaws that are less restrictive than the province’s anti-smoking bylaw.

Scott has the power to do just that under guidelines contained in the Indian Act concerning bylaws on reserves.

However, he admits he’s not sure what he’s going to do.

Scott says he supports what the province is trying to do with its new anti-smoking legislation, but he isn’t enthusiastic about the prospect of trampling on First Nations sovereignty.