Keep Smoke Away From Our Kids

Huron County, ON – Smoking in places where kids play could get a little tougher in Huron County if new legislation passes. The Government of Ontario has proposed changes that would make it harder for youth to get tobacco products and further limit smoking in public areas in Ontario.

The Huron County Health Unit supports the move, says Public Health Nurse Julie Verch. “Ontario has a goal to have the lowest smoking rate in the country, and this is a big step to help us get there” says Verch. “This will reduce Huron residents’, especially youth’s exposure to the harmful effects of tobacco.”

The Youth Smoking Prevention Act, if passed, would:

Prohibit smoking on playgrounds, sport fields, and restaurant and bar patios.
Double fines for those who sell tobacco to youth, making Ontario’s penalties the highest in Canada.
Ban the sale of flavoured tobacco products targeted at kids to make smoking less appealing to young people.
Strengthen enforcement to allow for testing of tobacco in waterpipes in indoor public places.
Prohibit tobacco sales on post-secondary education campuses and specified provincial government properties.

The proposed changes were introduced in the house on November 18. The public has until January 2, 2014 to comment on the proposed changes.

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