Inuvik (May 31/04) - The craving for cigarettes led to a hefty fine for a construction company in Inuvik.

Ninety North Construction, currently working on a hotel construction site, was fined $5,000 plus a $750 victim surcharge fee May 20 by the NWT Worker's Compensation Board for smoking on a worksite.

The ticket was issued to the company for a violation of the environmental tobacco smoke worksite regulations, which came into effect May 1, said Dave Grundy, WCB manager of public affairs and communication in Yellowknife. It is the first fined issued to a company for violating the new anti-smoking legislation in the NWT.

Grundy said WCB and the company are now having "open dialogue" with regards to the ticket. He said he did not know further details and did not know if the ticket might be revoked.

"I can't say one way or the other because I don't know," he said.

The company is scheduled for a court appearance on Monday, June 14, in Inuvik.

Grundy said the position of the WCB is that of full compliance with the smoking legislation.

Grundy could not provide circumstances surrounding the issuing of the ticket.

However, earlier reports indicated workers were attempting to set up a smoking area on the construction grounds.

When contacted at the company's Yellowknife office, Allen Johnston of Ninety North would not comment on the incident.

Meanwhile, in the company's Calgary office, president Tony Turgeon was taken by surprise when asked about the offence.

"I didn't know about it," he said, adding he would look into the matter.

Grundy said the newly implemented regulations are very clear in stating no smoking is to occur on worksites.

There have been unsubstantiated rumours about another business in Inuvik, The Mad Trapper bar, wanting to build an enclosed smoking room within their bar to accommodate patrons -- an act which would also contravene the regulations.

Vince Brown, president of the Mackenzie Hotel group which runs the Mad Trapper and three other bars in town, said the company is "working with the WCB on a solution."

Grundy said such a room would violate the ban.

"But they are building something," he said, indicating that a separate outside structure at least three metres away from doors or windows could be built without breaking the law.

Grundy said the WCB's governance council did not want any smoking in rooms within the hospitality industry.

"And any changes would have to be done by the minister," he said.