Iqaluit (June 23/03) - The Workers' Compensation Board of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut will recommend a new regulation this fall that bans smoking in all workplaces across the territories.

If the recommendation is accepted, the ban would be the toughest in the country.

"We're not banning smoking, all we say is smoke outside," said Andy Wong, chair of the WCB.

"This is an initiative that clearly is supported by the public. Where the support has not been whole-hearted is strictly from the hospitality industry, who are fighting for the provision of ventilated space."

Public consultations on the smoking ban started in February. About 650 copies of a consultation paper were released to the public in Nunavut and the NWT and feedback was requested. Only 31 agencies replied.

A toll-free number was also set up where interested parties could phone up and voice their opinions. The WCB said nobody from Nunavut has used the toll-free number.

Wong said the feedback the WCB did receive was positive.

"Certainly from the feedback, overwhelmingly, they state second hand smoke in the workplace is an issue and that the Workers Compensation Board should do something about it," he explained.

Compliance, not control

The WCB's stand on smoking in the work place is part of their crusade to ensure safer working environments, especially in the hospitality industry.

The WCB will work with businesses to come up with a model for enforcing the new regulation.

"We want to come up with an enforcement plan where the industry is comfortable that we're moving as fast as we can, but we've got to give them a chance to adapt to the reality," he said.

Any employer caught violating the smoking ban would be fined. The amount of the fine has not yet been set.

"We want it to be deterrent, but we don't want to necessarily shut everyone down immediately. We're looking for compliance, not for control," said Wong.

The next steps

Board members of the WCB have directed their administration to review the draft regulation.

"Keep in mind our ministers, Joseph Handley in the NWT and Kelvin Ng in Nunavut, have to sign off. They sign this regulation and then it comes into law," said Wong.

The regulation's final draft will be approved in September by the WCB and then it will go to the ministers. At that time, a start date will also be recommended.

"We're not going to be dillying and dallying on this issue. They know this is coming down and the sooner these things become law, the better," he explained.

Support from Government

So far, however, ministers from both jurisdictions are supportive of it.

Ng, the minister in charge of the WCB for Nunavut, said both territories are fairly consistent when it comes to WCB regulations.

"We've always worked together very well on issues for the WCB and it's been pretty consistent. We're quite supportive of what the WCB is doing," he said.

NG said ministers in charge of the WCB must go through their cabinets to endorse or confirm any new regulation.

He said the process doesn't take long.