Yellowknife (Dec 03/03) - City council will consider easing a ban on smoking in Yellowknife drinking establishments.

The move comes after four hours of discussion at the municipal services committee meeting Monday.

Tony Chang told city committee to consider "what is the best for all of Yellowknife." - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

There have also been several presentations to council and city committees from representatives of the hospitality industry during recent weeks. The bylaw banning smoking in bars, clubs and lounges came into effect Oct. 1.

Council will vote Dec. 8 on two motions to amend the city's smoking bylaw. Both were proposed at committee by Coun. Bob Brooks.

The committee will ask council to amend the bylaw to allow smoking in bars after 10 p.m. until April 30. It was supported by councillors Brooks, Dave McCann, Doug Witty, Alan Woytuik and Blake Lyons. Councillors Kevin O'Reilly and Mark Heyck voted against the motion.

The second motion will ask council to review feasibility of allowing smoking rooms. Voting in favour were Brooks, McCann, Witty and Woytuik. O'Reilly, Heyck and Lyons were opposed.

A motion by Lyons to meet with workers in the hospitality industry to discuss the loss of employment because of the bylaw was defeated. Only Lyons and Heyck voted in favour of that motion.

During Monday's meeting, hospitality workers described loss of income. One bar owner was concerned about loss of sales.

David Hurley of the Yellowknife Hospitality Association said the bylaw has been devastating. "Our customers have spoken with our feet and we don't foresee any change in the future," said Hurley.

"We are not naive enough to believe there will always be smoking...but you need some time. One month is too quick," he continued.

Tony Chang told committee he sees the issue becoming "us and them."

"Take a leadership role," he urged committee. You cannot legislate people not to smoke; you have to educate them not to. The city needs to address the bylaw. Workers' Compensation needs to address the workers' health," Chang said.

David McPherson, past president of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, said the previous city council took no steps to mitigate the effects the bylaw would have on business.

"The industry was willing to work with them, but they got no help at all."

Hospitality workers Tania Ramm and Jana Nelson said they have to deal with a loss of income and angry customers.

"You have taken us from the frying pan into the fire," Ramm said.

Former councillor Ben McDonald told the committee the issue was one of "deja vu all over again."

"It's your obligation to balance interests and it should be a public health interest," said McDonald. "The current bylaw should not be suspended while negotiations go on."

Committee also heard from advocates of the bylaw, including Ruby Trudel and Rosella Stoesz of Tobacco Action Yellowknife. They applauded the city's stand on public smoking.

"If you create the right environment, business will improve," Trudel said to complaints of lost revenue in the industry.

Committee also discussed meeting with the Workers' Compensation Board to examine the bylaw and affect pending WCB legislation will have. A territories-wide ban on smoking in the workplace is expected to go into effect May 1, 2004.

Which law?

WCB lawyer Mike Triggs said it isn't clear which law would be paramount.

"We just don't know at the moment," Triggs said.

The city's smoking bylaw will be enforced by its bylaw enforcement division while the WCB legislation will be enforced by its safety inspectors.