Please forward the attached message to the OPHE and CLICK 4HP bulletin,
asking that Hamilton-Wentworth participants respond if they can. Others
who have an interest can also respond.

Thank you ,

Alan McFarlane


NEWS ALERT
HELP PROTECT OUR KIDS!

        Please post

TO:     CONCERNED AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS
FROM:   JIM MCNEIL, PRESIDENT, Hamilton-Wentworth Council on Smoking and
Health
DATE:   SEPTEMBER 26, 1997


A Model Tobacco Control By-law was presented to Hamilton-Wentworth
Regional Council this past August, that would make most public places
and all workplaces smoke-free by June 1, 2000. This Model was developed
by a working committee made up of representatives from each
municipality, community members, Regional staff, and elected officials.
Public input was received over a six-month period.

Municipalities are now deciding on a Regional Council motion that asks
for a public vote on the Model By-law, a key step toward new local
smoke-free by-laws. Ancaster, Flamborough, and Glanbrook will implement
the vote, while Stoney Creek and Dundas have said no to a public
referendum. The City of Hamilton has yet to decide, but will discuss the
issue next week. With the majority of the Region's population, getting
Hamilton Council to agree to a vote is key. However, a positive result
with Hamilton Council is not ensured.

ACTION REQUESTED: Please arrange to have at least three people who are
residents of Hamilton to phone/fax Councillors, especially their own
Alderman/Alderwoman by Monday, Sept. 29. Tell the Councillor you support
a vote on the by-law issue and that we have the obligation to protect
children with a new smoke-free by-law.


City of Hamilton:   546-2730 phone    546-2535 fax

Mayor Bob Morrow           Don Ross
Marvin Caplan              Geraldine Copps
Dave Wilson                Bernie Morelli
Chad Collins               Don Drury
Fred Eisenberger           William McCulloch
Bob Charters               Vince Agro
Tom Jackson
Terry Anderson
Henry Merling
Frank D'Amico
Mary Kiss

        This action is CRITICAL. Please phone!!


Model Tobacco Control By-law Summary

The Model Tobacco Control By-law Committee, consisting of
representatives of the six Area Municipalities, elected officials and
staff of the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth, and community
representatives, have just completed the process to develop a Model
Tobacco Control By-law for use by the area municipalities.  This
process, which took almost a year to complete, included input from over
200 residents of Ancaster, Dundas, Glanbrook, Flamborough, Hamilton, and
Stoney Creek.

The Model By-law considers carefully hazardous exposure to second-hand
smoke, especially for children, and concerns of local businesses and
citizens.  It proposes that:

All public places and workplaces will be smoke-free by June 1, 2000 with
the following exceptions:

        Bingo Halls, Billiard Halls , Bowling Establishments, Public Halls,
and Gaming              Establishments will be allowed to establish a
smoking area that is not more than      50% of the indoor seating area of an
establishment.

        Restaurants will be allowed to establish smoking areas that are no
more than               25% of contiguous indoor seating by June 1, 1998. As
of June 1, 2000,                        restaurants that wish to allow smoking will
be required to provide Designated               Smoking Areas (DSA's) of not
more than 50% of the indoor seating area. DSA's                 are fully
enclosed and separately ventilated. Proprietors will be required
to           post health warning signs on the entrance to a DSA.

        Licenced Restaurants will be allowed to establish a smoking area that
is not          more than 75% of the indoor seating area provided the
establishment restricts                 entrance to minors that are under the
age of 19 or they have a house policy with      the Liquor Licence Board of
Ontario. These establishments will be required to               post health
warning signs on all entrances.

The implementation of the Model By-law will be phased in over two years.
Most of the regulations would commence June 1, 1998, with restaurants
being required to go smoke-free or build Designated Smoking Areas (if
they allow minors) by June 1, 2000. This implementation approach is
consistent with Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Guelph, where councils
there have passed by-laws that make restaurants smoke-free by the year
2000.

If there are any questions regarding the Model Tobacco Control By-law,
please direct them to Councillor Marvin Caplan, Chair, Model Tobacco
Control By-law Committee (546-2416) or the Tobacco Use Prevention
Program, Regional Public Health Department (546-3574).