Inuvik (Apr 26/04) - A bylaw may have made the transition to the Workers' Compensation Board smoking ban a bit easier to bear for Inuvik residents.

Clarence Wood, an Inuvik town councillor, smokes one of the last cigarettes he will legally be able to consume in a public work space after the Workers' Compensation Board ruling takes effect, May 1. - Erin Fletcher/NNSL photo

The ban disallows smoking within any enclosed work place except private residences, hotel rooms and seniors homes. Employees could face up to $500 for a violation and employers up to $5,000.

In July 2003, a bylaw took effect in Inuvik banning smoking from any establishment were children were present and within three metres of a building entrance.

Most places complied or worked the bylaw to their advantage like the Sunriser Cafe at the Mackenzie Hotel in Inuvik.

There, management decided to become an adult-only coffee shop so patrons could continue smoking.

That too will stop with the WCB ban, but cafe manager Ernst Vittur isn't too worried. He said the ban may even boost business.

"It's nice non-smokers and anyone under 19 years old can return to the cafe," he said.

"It should have happened years ago," said Clarence Wood, a smoker and Inuvik town councillor, who supported the bylaw and now the ban.

"I think it will give me an opportunity to quit. Yes, it is going to be inconvenient but that's life."

Other smokers and non-smokers seemed to agree with Wood.

"It's a good thing, definitely," said Bambi Amos of Inuvik, who also smokes.

"It will be a healthier environment."

Amos said the ban won't stop her from going out.

"It's the best possible thing they can do because we shouldn't have to inhale someone else's choice to smoke cigarettes," said Tasha Kay, a non-smoking Inuvik resident.

Most offices, government and otherwise, converted to non-smoking years ago.

"People used to smoke, but over the past five years it's gone from smoking in the office to outside," said Peggy Jay, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation communications person, of the IRC building in Inuvik.

Now smokers take their habit outside the front door. Once internal renovations are done that too will change. A new designated smoking area will be established at the back of the building, she said.

"It's not a big factor for us," said Tom Williams, chief executive officer for the Gwich'in Tribal Council.

"We get a lot of guests, but people respect the non-smoking."

Taxis are the same. United Cabs have been non-smoking since the Inuvik bylaw started, said dispatcher Hussien Mustafa.

Some construction site rules may now change. Smoking is already banned in all federal and territorial buildings and vehicles but was not banned in buildings under construction as long as they were away from work places, said Brian Lemax, regional superintendent for GNWT public works.

"Most people respect it," said Lemax of the policy.

He doesn't anticipate any problems switching over to the new rule.