Debate is heating up in St. Albert over a survey that could lead to restrictions on where St. Albert residents can smoke or vape tobacco in the city.
The city launched an online survey March 11, receiving hundreds of responses within the first week.
Community members reached by the Gazette this past week held differing opinions on tobacco restrictions.
St. Albert resident Justin Rankin told the Gazette he believes people should be free to smoke wherever they please, although he doesn’t personally use tobacco. He does use marijuana, which the city has also banned in public.
“I just feel the more they start to restrict cigarettes and vaporizers, the smaller the chance bylaws for smoking weed in public will loosen up,” he said.
“It just seems like they’re trying to slowly shun people and make them feel like they’re less than everyone else.”
Rankin said if the city decides to impose more tobacco restrictions, that could eventually lead to an all-out ban on smoking any product within the city.
Trevor Skoro argued smokers should be courteous of non-smokers, but aside from that the city should not prevent them from lighting up.
He suggested restaurants and some private businesses should have areas where people can use both tobacco and marijuana – similar to what some parts of Europe have done.
On the other side of the equation, Stephan Messenger said he believes the city should move forward with a strong bylaw for smokers.
He said people should not be allowed to smoke whatever they want in public spaces.
“They can smoke (in their) houses or in vehicles,” he added.
Diane McClure agreed with that, adding there should be a smoking ban at schools and on surrounding property.
“Some feedback should be provided to smokers who go into a crowded area after they have power-smoked,” she added.
“They totally reek of tobacco.”
The city already has a smoking bylaw in place, which prohibits smoking and vaping tobacco in some public areas, such as bus shelters and city facilities. Some of the areas not covered under the bylaw include parks, park trails and public sidewalks.
The bylaw is one former councillor Neil Korotash, who is currently running for the Alberta Party in the riding of Morinville-St. Albert, is familiar with. Korotash served on the council that initially brought the bylaw in in 2004.
He voted against the bylaw at the time because he said he wanted businesses to implement their own rules and regulations around smoking.
“I sided with the restaurants and the bars at the time and said that is a business decision,” he said.
“If people would not like to be in that kind of environment, then that’s their choice not to go into that establishment. It looks like I’m not on history’s side on this one.”
Korotash, who does not smoke or vape, said he’s approaching the questions posed by the survey in a different way than he approached the bylaw. He’s advocating for more restrictions around smoking because of the pollution caused by cigarette butts. He is also supporting a ban on smoking around parks and trails.
He’s more lenient when it comes to vaping, though.
“With vaping, there’s no litter or garbage associated with it and there’s not the same smell associated with it,” he said.
“I’m kind of in the middle in terms of where I’m at. I generally don’t like regulation, but in public places where there’s littering and it smells bad, I think you are taking away from the enjoyment of other people.”
The survey can be completed by visiting the city's website. It runs until April 1, with results expected to be released in May.
