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Letters
Thursday, April 25, 2002
Re: Piano man cut short by by-law by Susan Sherring, April 18, 2002:
Susan Sherring writes that David Kalil cannot continue working as an
entertainer for very much longer because the nine-month-old smoke-free by-laws have ruined Ottawa's bar
scene.
Mr. Kalil's story is interesting, nay, ironic. He co-owns Tanglewood Pub,
he performs at Tanglewood Pub, and, in contravention of the smoke-free by-laws, he permits smoking in
Tanglewood Pub. Tanglewood Pub is going under.
So, Mr. Kalil finds work at a new establishment in the hospitality industry
that complies with the smoke-free by-laws. (And PUBCO said that it could not be done!)
Meanwhile, Ms. Sherring waxes eloquent about her favourite haunts -
Jaggers, The Saucy Noodle, and Down and Under - all of which closed long
before Ottawa's 100% smoke-free by-laws were on the books.
Interestingly, Statistics Canada reports that there were fewer bankruptcies
in the hospitality sector in Ottawa this year compared to last year.
Ms. Sherring, you have done your readers a great disservice. The least you
could have done was to ask Mr. Kalil if he enjoys entertaining in a smoke-free venue, and if
his audience enjoys his smoke-free performances.
Carmela Graziani
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