Moire Jones, the community health co-ordinator with the Fort Smith Health Centre, says smoking in restaurants tempts non-smokers to smoke again.

And, she says, people don't want to bring their children into smoke-filled establishments.

"They have a right to protect themselves and their children."

Jones launched the petition on Dec. 2, and she says she has been encouraged by the public support.

"It really surprised me the number of people who said they'd help me to get lots of signatures," she says.

She will present the petition to town council on Jan. 7.

In the past five years, she has twice approached town council about a bylaw to ban smoking, but was told council felt people were not ready for such a ban.

Jones says she has no sense of where the current council stands on the issue. "Hopefully, they'll listen to the people."

Mayor Peter Martselos says he supports a ban.

"I think it's the way to go," he says, while noting it will be up to council to decide on whether a bylaw will be introduced.

And one restaurant manager also supports a smoking ban.

"It's a good idea," says Ed Saraya of Ed's Express.

Saraya says many customers complain about smoke in the restaurant. In fact, he says he feels he is losing business because of it. Like the other several restaurants in Fort Smith, Ed's Express has tables reserved for non-smokers, but they are close to other tables where smoking is allowed.

Jones says her petition does not target bars, "Because children are not in bars."

She says she is surprised the GNWT hasn't passed legislation banning smoking in restaurants, noting some provinces have done so.

As a nurse, "I've seen what smoking has done to people."

Smoking has also affected her family. Her husband, a heavy smoker, died at age 44 from lung cancer.