Yellowknife (June 20/03) - City council is inching closer to banning smoking in bars.

"It's not a question of if we're going to go nonsmoking, it's a question of when and how," Coun. Kevin O'Reilly said Monday at a municipal services committee meeting.

O'Reilly isn't alone. Several councillors said it's time to take a stronger stand against smoking.

The issue will go to council on June 24. The ban could be law by September 1, enforced by the RCMP with fines of up to $2,000 for defiant smokers and $10,000 for businesses.

The current smoking bylaw does not apply to places where people under the age of 19 are prohibited, and council feels that gives businesses selling liquor and food an unfair advantage over restaurants.

In May council told city administrators to amend the smoking bylaw to include bars, cocktail lounges and clubs.

At Monday's committee meeting, council also directed administrators to include Sept. 1 as the effective date for the ban.

The bylaw has also been changed to prohibit smoking in taxi cabs at any time, and to place a stronger onus on business owners to keep their buildings smoke free.

"The proprietor has to make every reasonable effort to ensure people aren't smoking," said Tim Mercer, director of corporate services department. He said the RCMP would be responsible for upholding the bylaw.

Business owners would be subject to fines if customers smoke.

Coun. Alan Woytuik disagrees with the bylaw and said it's a waste of the city's time to "race" with the Worker's Compensation Board, which plans to table a law banning smoking in the workplace in September.

"I think we've gone way too far, I don't support this at all," said Woytuik. "If there's such a demand for nonsmoking bars then why don't we see them?"