The Canadian Smokers Rights Newsletter
A Section of The United Pro Choice Smokers Rights NewsletterIssue 505 - November 28, 2008
City clamps down on driving habits of employees -SK
Call for ban on chemicals in cosmetics, cleaners
City passes tobacco ban -PE
Whine about butts -AB
Fatal Cornwall crash was 'senseless' -ON
Crackdown sought after crash -ON
Woman arrested after car jumps sidewalk, hits man -ON
Re: Fatal Cornwall crash was 'senseless' Nov. 17.
Time to put smugglers out of business
________________________________________
City clamps down on driving habits of employees -SK
Published: Saturday, October 04, 2008
Rod Nickel, The StarPhoenix
Butt out, shut down the engine and can the calls.
A new policy requires City of Saskatoon employees to mind their health, the environment and public safety while at the wheel.
The policy, which took effect Tuesday, requires city employees to idle their engines for no longer than three minutes at a time. The idling rule doesn't apply to police or fire vehicles, buses when riders are getting on or off or occupied city vehicles when the temperature is more than 27 C or less than 5 C.
Smoking is banned in city vehicles under the policy.
Employees can no longer make calls on their cellphones or BlackBerries while driving city vehicles. They can take calls but are required to pull over for long conversations.
The point of the new policy is to save money and the environment by reducing idling, making streets safer with less cellphone use and protecting workers from secondhand smoke.
City workers understand the need for the policy, said Mike Stefiuk, who represents outside workers as president of CUPE Local 859. But he said there will be tough adjustments for some.
"Guys who have smoked their whole lives, they're going to have some issues coping with it," he said. "But they will. They're going to have to have some leniency on this policy for awhile, but we'll adapt."
Smoking in city vehicles was common until the policy took effect, Stefiuk said. Most who lit up used the same vehicles daily by themselves. Rules about cellphones and BlackBerries are "common sense," Stefiuk said.
"Cellphones as everybody knows are a distraction."
Penalties range up to dismissal, but Stefiuk said that's a standard part of city policies, not something that's likely to happen.
The Saskatoon Police Service is exempt from the policy. The force bans smoking in its vehicles, but otherwise relies on an officer's judgment, said Insp. Jerome Engele.
In the police parking lot, officers are encouraged not to leave cruisers running unless they're going in and out of the station quickly. Officers plug their cars in instead, allowing interior heaters or air conditioners to prevent extreme temperatures that damage police computers.
At a scene, officers shut down their engines if they don't expect to be there long, but leave them running if it's extremely hot or cold and they expect to be there awhile.
Officers communicate by radio and cellphone. If they need to make a long phone call in the vehicle, they're encouraged to pull over, Engele said, but not if they're en route to an emergency.
"I think our officers use their discretion (well)," Engele said. "I don't think our officers abuse it because it's our money also. We're taxpayers of the city and we like to conserve the money, too."
Call for ban on chemicals in cosmetics, cleaners
Nov 08, 2008 04:30 AM
Moira Welsh Environment Reporter
Children exposed to nail polish, perfumes or household cleaners are at risk, say health groups
http://www.thestar.com/article/533204
City passes tobacco ban -PE
Last updated at 11:48 PM on 11/11/08
WAYNE THIBODEAU The Guardian View comments (37)
Tobacco is being banned from all indoor and outdoor recreation and sports facilities in Charlottetown.
City council approved the changes Monday night. The new policy will go into effect Jan. 1, 2009.
The changes mean it will be illegal to smoke or use spit tobacco, including snuff, chew or plug, at any of the capital city’s community centres, sports fields and courts, parks and playgrounds, arenas and swimming pools.
The city says it will not allow tobacco products to be used or sold in any of the administrative offices, club rooms, change rooms or washrooms, food courts, indoor and outdoor spectator viewing areas as well as within the perimeter of all facilities, including parking lots and grounds.
Mitchell Tweel, the councillor who pushed forward the resolution banning tobacco, says it’s the right thing to do. He described it as a “progressive” step forward.
“Second-hand smoke is a major concern,” said Tweel. “I think this is a huge step forward and I look forward to the co-operation of all spectators that attend all of our facilities. We ask sincerely for their co-operation.”
Charlottetown joins a growing list of Island communities with similar tobacco-free policies.
The Town of Stratford was a leader in P.E.I., putting its tobacco-free policy in place Oct. 1, 2007. Summerside, Tignish and Borden-Carleton are some of the other Island communities who have adopted similar laws.
During city council Monday, Tweel was asked how the new law was going to be policed.
Tweel said the city is going to take an educational approach, as opposed to an adversarial one. He said the city will assume that somebody using tobacco where they are not supposed to be is simply unaware of the tobacco-free policy. The city will display signage where appropriate as well as support initiatives that promote awareness to the public of the dangers of tobacco products.
“People will eventually start policing it themselves,” he said.
Rob Lantz, another Charlottetown city councillor, wanted to know if that means this year’s Jack Frost Festival at Confederation Landing Park will be tobacco-free. He said last year he saw a handful of people smoking on the grounds and in one case blowing second-hand smoke near his children.
Lantz said that should change.
“I do recall standing around some facilities, tents, and snow sculptures at last year’s Jack Frost Festival where people were standing there blowing smoke in my kids’ face,” said Lantz.
Tweel said Confederation Landing does fall under the new policy which means next year’s Jack Frost Festival, as well as any other event held at the waterfront, will be tobacco-free.
“My answer is yes,” he said. “It is a family event. Jack Frost will be tobacco-free.”
Tobacco-free policy
The City of Charlottetown is adopting a new tobacco-free policy for indoor and outdoor recreation and sports facilities.
Who's affected? Participants, officials, coaches, players, parents, visitors and volunteers.
When does it go into effect? Jan. 1, 2009.
What facilities are included? All city-owned and operated indoor and outdoor facilities, including community centres, sports fields, parks and playgrounds, arenas and swimming pools.
Can I still buy tobacco products at city facilities? No.
Will the policy be reviewed? Yes. The policy will be reviewed six months after its introduction.
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=189110&sc=98
Whine about butts -AB
Nov 13, 2008
I find it truly amazing that after forcing smokers out of bars (and with many not returning), the city of Edmonton whines about cigarette butts. Those who brave the temperatures for their vice and yet wander back into the bars to spend money are at least helping to keep these establishments open. How many bars would remain open if rather than checking ID, they checked whether a patron smokes? You might just as well start boarding up the majority of bars and restaurants.
Kerry Davis
(Cheap politics, hurts business, does little for public health.)
http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/Letters/2008/11/13/7392896.html
Tobacco market expected to be short
Posted Nov 14 , 2008
If everything goes as planned, the pending tobacco market will be the shortest ever.
"We're trying to manage the market as efficiently as possible and we're going to try and do it in less than 50 days," said Linda Vandendriessche, Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers' Marketing Board chair.
The target is to move 550,000 pounds through the tobacco auction exchange in Delhi a day, with an expectation to actually sell 500,000 pounds. That target is roughly 100,000 pounds more than last year's sales target.
With the smallest crop size ever this year at just over 23 million pounds, board officials are hoping to keep down marketing costs by selling it in fewer days.
There has been constant contact with tobacco manufacturers while planning for the market. The market has started slowly in recent years and has taken several weeks to see the daily volume and price expectations met. Vandendriessche is hopeful that won't be the case this year.
The good news is there are two new buyers on the market this year. North Shore Tobacco, a new local company, will have a buyer at the auction. On the export side, Hail and Cotton will have a person taking part. Both companies have bought tobacco at the Delhi exchange before, but always through another purchasing agent.
"The more competition the better," Vandendriessche said. "We're hopeful with more buyers it will stimulate competition."
More uncertainty surrounds how the 2009 crop will be marketed. Board officials hope to meet with provincial Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky in the near future to discuss a new marketing system for 2009 and transition for tobacco farmers.
A meeting is planned for late next week to iron out much of the remaining details in regard to a federal quota buyout. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Haldimand-Norfolk MP Diane Finley announced the package in mid-summer. Growers were promised $1.05 for each pound of quota retired.
"We want the money to flow as soon as possible," Vandendriescche said. "We'll try to work out the details at the end of next week."
http://www.simcoereformer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1296963
Fatal Cornwall crash was 'senseless' -ON
Monday, November 17, 2008
Brendan Kennedy The Ottawa Citizen
'These people are dead over a van-load of cigarettes': witness
A woman who witnessed a high-speed fatal collision -- caused by a suspected cigarette smuggler being chased by police -- in Akwesasne Mohawk Territory on Cornwall Island said yesterday that the violent crash produced a large mushroom cloud of smoke and an awful smashing sound.
http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4343
Crackdown sought after crash -ON
Posted By Sun Media - Nov. 17, 2008
An eastern Ontario MP is requesting beefed-up border security after three people died in a collision following a police pursuit of an alleged cigarette smuggler.
http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4343
Woman arrested after car jumps sidewalk, hits man -ON
Sun Nov. 02 2008 7:34:55 PM
Web Staff, cp24.com
A woman has been arrested following a suspicious hit-and-run collision in Leslieville this weekend.
A car mounted the curb outside Teddy's Sports Bar and Grill on Saturday morning, mowing down a patron who had been called outside just moments earlier.
http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4343
Re: Fatal Cornwall crash was 'senseless' Nov. 17.
Published: Friday, November 21, 2008
This news article tells a very sad story. But what is overlooked is the real cause of the situation.
Instead of attacking the problem at its roots, the excessive and unfair taxation of a minority group, the authorities will simply call for more enforcement which will lead to more deaths, more people being imprisoned, and more taxation on everyone.
http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5003
Time to put smugglers out of business
Posted Nov 21, 2008
The police pursuit of an alleged contraband tobacco smuggler that resulted in the deaths of two innocent people must give us pause. We know the problem with illegal cigarettes is out of control. We know that these cigarettes are ending up in the hands of kids who shouldn't be smoking at all.
http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5003
Dear Mayor and Councilors, Smuggling, Taxes, and more... -ON
November 22, 2008
While reading yet another story about cigarette smuggling today I ran across this quote from Mayor Bob Kilger: "I still think you need a fairly aggressive taxation policy on that commodity. If you lower it beyond a certain level ... the health of people, which is a hell of a lot more important, and all those related costs, will skyrocket."
I would agree that if taxes were substantially lower you would probably have more people smoking and that their health would probably suffer from it... but probably not as much as you might think.
http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5003
Smoking out the solution
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Neco Cockburn The Ottawa Citizen
A jurisdictional nightmare in the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory has nurtured the cross-border business of running cigarettes and other contraband across the St. Lawrence. A past mayor of Cornwall once lamented that his city had become a 'Dodge City East' with firebombings, shootouts and countless high-speed chases. Since then, it sometimes seems as though little has changed in the fight against smuggling. But what do you do when many people don't consider it a crime? Neco Cockburn reports.
http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5003
We need to crack down on smugglers
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The Gazette
The police pursuit of an alleged contraband tobacco smuggler that resulted in the deaths of two innocent people outside Cornwall, Ont. last week must give us pause.
We know the problem with illegal cigarettes is out of control.
http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5003
Welcome folks to 'Banville' -MB
By PAUL BERTON
Sun, November 23, 2008
Of all the colourful quotes thrown around following the NDP's unremarkable throne speech delivered Thursday, Green Party leader James Beddome had the best.
"They're throwing crumbs of bread at problems that require a whole loaf," he told the Winnipeg Sun.
That is until Premier Gary Doer calls for a ban on bread crumbs. Or perhaps on bread itself. It would make any brilliant mathematician crazy, the number of times the word "ban" was uttered from the lips of Lieutenant-Governor John Harvard while the throne speech was being delivered.
Here's an example of some: Bans on non-recyclable plastic bags, ban on smoking in vehicles with children present, ban on using cellphones or text messaging while driving and a ban on logging in provincial parks. How about a ban on throne speeches because they could be hazardous to your health? Or a ban on voting NDP in the next election?
Kidding aside just how will Manitoba be a more prosperous, vibrant, economically-sound province in the coming year -- facing uncertain economic times or possible recession -- by banning what we will call "common sense?" Because that's just what these restrictions are. Responsible parents don't smoke with their children in the car. Safe drivers don't talk on the cellphone or text message when they are travelling from point A to point B on the province's broken up highways.
And most of us have become more environmentally sound when it comes to plastic bags.
Even if by some great miracle the province comes up with a brilliant plan that makes these bans enforceable, how is the economic life of our province improved? Last we checked, a throne speech was to outline an economic and social plan to move Manitoba forward not make us known as "Banville" across Canada.
Yet Premier Gary Doer seems to be proud of the document that he calls a "steady as she goes" plan. Perhaps Doer is spending too much time around other provincial premiers and is catching the "ban" bug.
That's because we're not the only province stricken with this malady. Everything from smoking in public places to pesticides (two bans that make sense) to cellphones have been the subject of bans for the past decade.
It's becoming the easy cop out for governments to justify they've done something to curb a burning issue in their province.
With all that Doer could have promised Manitobans -- fixing health care, eliminating waste, spending reined in -- choosing to be the watchdog on our "common sense" means his government has failed Manitobans.
We would like to see a ban on bad governing.
http://www.winnipegsun.com/Comment/Editorial/2008/11/23/7502581-sun.html
Fair play for smugglers
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The Gazette
Re: "We need to crack down on smugglers" (Letters, Nov. 23).
I disagree with Dave Bryans's contention that we need to crack down on cigarette smugglers. If the government didn't tax us to death there would be no need to smuggle tobacco.
http://www.smokersclubinc.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5003
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