City Of Ottawa-Regulations

Warning period for expanded smoke-free regulations to end Monday

Beginning July 2, following a three-month education phase, the City of Ottawa’s new, expanded smoke-free regulations will be in full effect. The City thanks all residents, businesses and community groups for their cooperation and advises that violations of the smoke-free regulations will be subject to enforcement.Residents are reminded that smoking is now prohibited on all municipal properties, such as parks and beaches, and on all bar and restaurant patios. These changes are designed to protect non-smokers and children from second-hand smoke, and to reduce smoking rates.People smoking in prohibited areas may be subject to a ticket. Complaints submitted through ottawa.ca/smokefree and 3-1-1 will inform the City about problem areas and help target enforcement efforts.The City is continuing to reach out to all affected restaurants and bars, business groups, community associations, event organizers and users of City facilities. Public awareness strategies will continue throughout the summer to help ensure a smooth transition of these regulatory changes.For more information about the expanded regulations, or for help to quit smoking, please visit ottawa.ca/smokefree or call 3-1-1.If you are a restaurant or bar owner and would like to arrange for training for your serving staff, please e-mail healthsante@ottawa.ca or call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744. Connect with Ottawa Public Health on Facebook and Twitter (@ottawahealth) read more..

source:ottawa.ca

Expanded Smoke-Free Regulations-Regulatory Changes-City Of Ottawa-Smoking

Expanded smoke-free regulations are now in effect

The City of Ottawa’s expanded smoke-free regulations are now in effect. Smoking is now prohibited on all municipal properties, such as parks and beaches, and on all bar and restaurant patios. These changes are designed to protect non-smokers and children from second-hand smoke, and to reduce smoking rates.Starting today, by-law enforcement officers will provide information and issue courtesy warnings where appropriate.By-law and Regulatory Services and Ottawa Public Health staff are continuing to reach out to all affected restaurants and bars, business groups, community associations, event organizers and users of City facilities. Public awareness strategies will continue throughout the spring and summer to help ensure a smooth transition for the regulatory changes.For more information about the expanded regulations, or for help to quit smoking, please visit ottawa.ca/smokefree or call 3-1-1.If you are a restaurant or bar owner and would like to arrange for training for your serving staff, please e-mail healthsante@ottawa.ca or call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744. read more..

source:ottawa.ca

Public Opinion Research-Community Engagement-Public Consultation-Advocacy Strategy

LET’S CLEAR THE AIR: A RENEWED STRATEGY FOR A SMOKE-FREE OTTAWA

This report outlines a proposal for a Renewed Strategy for a Smoke-Free Ottawa, designed to protect children and non-smokers from second-hand smoke (SHS) and to reduce tobacco use.   The proposed strategy includes a significant increase in programming for people who want to quit; new smoke-free regulations to protect people from SHS and a public awareness, community engagement and advocacy strategy designed to make Ottawa a healthier city for all. OPH is recommending to the Ottawa Board of Health (BOH), the Community and Protective Services Committee (CPSC) and City Council that existing smoke-free regulations be amended, beginning this year, to prohibit smoking on: ·         All municipal properties, including parks, playgrounds, beaches, sports fields, fruit and vegetable markets and outdoor areas around City facilities; and ·         Outdoor restaurant and bar patios and terraces.  These initiatives have been developed after extensive public consultation and research and do not require additional funding to enforce or to deliver enhanced services. OPH’s consultations and public opinion research indicate that Ottawa residents strongly support creating more smoke-free spaces. If the recommendations in this report are adopted by Council, Ottawa will join a growing number of municipalities that have made such places smoke-free.  SHS is a known health hazard and studies have found that it can be as toxic outdoors as indoors (1-12). Sadly, every year 1,000 smokers and non-smokers in Ottawa die prematurely of tobacco related illness (13). Smoking and SHS has a financial cost as well, including $2 billion in direct health care costs to the Ontario economy (14). For Ottawa residents, hospitalization costs alone due to smoking-related illnesses are almost $40 million per year (13). The purpose of the proposed regulatory amendments is to reduce public exposure to SHS and the resulting risk of tobacco related chronic illness. The proposed amendments are part of an overall OPH strategy to protect children and non-smokers from SHS exposure, reduce smoking rates, increase tobacco cessation attempts, reduce tobacco use initiation, and improve health outcomes such as reducing heart attacks, respiratory illness and cancer.  The regulations would complement community engagement activities that will advance smoke-free policies in settings such as hospitals and post-secondary campuses, doorways, hotels, motels and bed and breakfast establishments, spectator events, multiple unit dwellings, and outdoor worksites such as construction sites. A phased-in approach for enforcement of the regulatory amendments is recommended. Beginning with awareness raising and warnings, fines would not be levied until three months after the amendments take effect. It is anticipated that there would be a high degree of voluntary compliance and, as a result enforcement is recommended to be predominantly complaint-driven and would not require additional by-law staff or other resources. Enforcement would be accompanied by a parallel strategy that includes a public awareness campaign to inform the public of the regulatory changes and to increase awareness of the health risks of tobacco smoke and the dangers of water-pipe use.Full Report here read more..

source:ottawa.ca

Restaurant Staff-City Facilities-City Of Ottawa-Regulations-City Park

Expanded smoke-free regulations will clear the air starting April 2

With the City of Ottawa’s expanded smoke-free regulations coming into effect on April 2, the City is working to ensure residents, businesses and other affected groups are aware of the changes.The expanded smoke-free regulations will prohibit smoking on all municipal properties, such as parks and beaches, and on all bar and restaurant patios. These changes are designed to protect non-smokers and children from second-hand smoke, and to ultimately reduce smoking rates.[[MORE]]“Whether you’re at a City park or beach or at a restaurant patio this summer, you will be able to enjoy yourself without the dangers of second-hand smoke,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “The City of Ottawa is once again a leader in providing smoke-free spaces for our residents and visitors.”During March and April, By-law and Regulatory Services and Ottawa Public Health staff are reaching out to all affected groups by:

• Sending letters and e-mails to all affected restaurants and bars, business groups, community associations, event organizers and users of City facilities;
• Notifying the public through ottawa.ca, social media, and print and radio advertising;
• Visiting all restaurant and bars with patios or terraces to discuss the changes, and providing information and signage to ensure that employees and patrons are aware of the new regulations;
• Offering information and training sessions for restaurant staff and other interested groups; and
• Engaging City employees through an internal communications strategy that includes information and training sessions.

Awareness strategies will continue throughout the spring and summer to help ensure a smooth transition for the regulatory changes. Starting April 2, 2012, by-law enforcement officers will provide information and issue courtesy warnings where appropriate. Fines may be issued starting July 2, 2012.“We are reaching out to all affected groups to ensure people are aware of the expanded regulations,” said Councillor Mark Taylor, Chair of the Community and Protective Services Committee. “A three-month awareness and education phase has been built-in to the implementation of these regulations before the period when fines begin.”“I look forward to celebrating Ottawa’s first smoke-free patio, park and beach season very soon,” said Councillor Diane Holmes, Chair of the Board of Health. “The regulations are part of a larger strategy that will make Ottawa a healthier city for all.”For more information about the expanded regulations, or if you need help quitting smoking, please visit ottawa.ca/smokefree or call 3-1-1.If you are a restaurant or bar owner and would like to arrange for training for your serving staff, please e-mail healthsante@ottawa.ca or call the Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744. read more..

source:ottawa.ca