Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 28/99) - Your plane may be delayed, it may be minus 40 outside, but you can forget about lighting up a cigarette in the Yellowknife Airport this fall.

Arctic Airports director, Jim Winsor, said the airport terminal has been the one exception to the GNWT's no smoking in government- owned buildings policy. That has changed.

Smoking will not be allowed in the terminal building after Sept. 1.

"As far as I know, it's the only building owned by the GNWT where smoking continued after the no-smoking policy was put in place," Winsor said.

"It's a situation we never looked at because there wasn't a pressing need."

The airport is being renovated. Building a gift shop, removing offices at the north end, and roof maintenance are all part of the upgrade.

"We're currently in the process of doing renovations and the smoking room is right in the centre of the building. It's something that at times contributes to traffic congestion," Winsor said.

"(Airport Connector Restaurant) will now be a non-smoking restaurant, which will make it a more attractive place. Families can come and watch the planes in a healthy environment.

"Just taking out the smoking room itself makes more space available for us to work with," Windsor added.

The restaurant's manager, Sharon Carpenter, doesn't share Winsor's optimism about the change that will hit the privately-owned restaurant. Mining employees, who are stuck at the airport for hours, often stay to wait for their flight out. Many of them are smokers.

"There are fellas who come down from the mine who will now grab a cab and go downtown. That's a big part of our business that will be lost," Carpenter said.

"(Mine workers) don't stand outside to smoke now, they sure aren't going to when winter comes."

Winsor said they are constructing a glass wall outside, similar to a bus shelter, for smokers.

"I think we all know there will be people who aren't happy with this. We have considered that and we are enclosing an alcove area outside the terminal to ensure smokers aren't standing around in front of the doors," Winsor said.