Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 23/02) - A group of local citizens pushing for a total ban on smoking in restaurants and dining rooms will have to wait a little longer before city council grants them their wish.

Charlotte Digness was in the Diner Monday afternoon having a cigarette. She said non-smokers can go to a non-smoking restaurant like A&W if they don't like smoke. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

Tobacco Action Yellowknife wanted the city to move up its already planned schedule for a 100 per cent ban on smoking in restaurants by Jan. 1, 2005 to Jan. 1 next year.

They also wanted city council to consider revising the bylaw to include a ban on smoking in taxis, workplaces, and transit shelters.

But at Monday's Priorities, Policies, and Budget Committee meeting, council heeded administration's advice that they were too busy concerning themselves with next year's budget, and put off making any decision until the new year.

"I can't see how it can be done by Jan. 1," said Coun. Dave Ramsay, adding he would like to see the bylaw reviewed.

Ramsay suggested including a question in a plebescite during the municipal election next October asking residents whether they would support moving the smoking ban up a year. Coun. Alan Woytuik, not particularly warm to the bylaw's current reading which allows restaurants to put aside up to 25 per cent of their seats to smokers, said restaurants should be given the choice -- either 100 per cent smoke free or not.

"It doesn't make sense to have one part of the restaurant smoke-free and the other not," said Woytuik. "How do you keep them separate?"

As it stands, several councillors, including Ramsay, Wendy Bisaro, Ben McDonald, and Robert Hawkins supported taking a second look early next year at moving up the smoking ban.

Coun. Blake Lyons agreed, but wanted some discussion on what to do about drinking establishments before proceeding.

"I'm a bit uneasy if we go after restaurants but don't address lounges," said Lyons.

Tobacco Action member Ruby Trudel said she was pleased that council at least entered into a debate on revising the smoking bylaw, but rejected Ramsay's view that a plebiscite question should be put to the public during next year's election. She said it would be too long a wait.

She also criticized Woytuik suggesting the decision to ban smoking should be left to restaurant owners.

"That puts the restaurateurs at a very awkward place that they've asked not to be placed in," said Trudel. "It puts restaurant owners in a very uncomfortable position of not wanting to offend anybody."