WHEREAS Fraser Health and other BC regional health authorities recommend that municipalities enforce smoke-free zones of 7.5 meters around entrances, windows and openings of public buildings and patios while the BC Ministry of Health, which regional health authorities report to, requires that smoke-free zones of 3 meters be created in accordance with the BC Tobacco Control Act, Ministry print materials and sample signs offered to merchants; AND WHEREAS this inconsistency between the size of smoke-free zone set by regional and provincial health authorities results in conflicting local and provincial legislation, contradictory signage on buildings and confusing rules for merchants, smokers, non-smokers and municipal bylaw enforcement officers: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that regional health authorities and the Ministry of Health agree on and establish a single standard smoke-free zone around entrances, windows and openings of public buildings.
