To: Mayor Bob Chiarelli and Councillors

From: Carolyn Hill, President, Ottawa Council on Smoking and Health

Subject: Background Information on PUBCO

Date: December 2, 2001

PUBCO Claims No Meaningful Consultation

In its Mission Statement, PUBCO claims there was "no meaningful consultation with business owners in the city." In fact, on April 6th, the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee heard 111 public presentations over a 14-hour session, before voting 7-to-2 in favour of the measure that was put to full Council two weeks later. And the city held no less than eleven public consultations before the bylaws even went to Committee.

The Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA) and the Canadian Food and Restaurant and Foodservice Association (CRFA) failed to support PUBCO's efforts to resist the bylaws. PUBCO summarized the ORHMA and CRFA response as "Go away, this non smoking bylaw is good for most of our membership." So, following strong majority support by the Health Committee, a unanimous vote by the full Council, and strong approval from fellow publicans and restaurateurs, PUBCO's claim that there has been "no meaningful consultation" rings hollow.

PUBCO Shows Contempt for the Facts

PUBCO adopts a derisive tone concerning restaurants that are already smoke-free, sneering that "this is what 'their clientele' wanted." Remarkably, PUBCO does acknowledge the sound economic case for the smoking prohibition: "Well, smoking demands more efficient ventilation, it costs money for ashtrays, it causes burns in carpets, table cloths, clothing, it costs more in cleaning, etc.…" PUBCO claims to worry about the financial health of its members, but can't deny that a totally smoke-free policy costs almost nothing to introduce, while continued smoking leads to enormous cleaning expenses; money wasted on inefficient ventilation "solutions"; and, above all, tremendous risks to the health of patrons and employees.

PUBCO also decries the efforts of what it calls the "anti-tobacco industry". Surely it can't be a surprise to PUBCO's members that people actually do care about the health consequences of second-hand smoke. A recent Decima survey confirmed the overwhelming public support for Ottawa's smoke-free bylaws. What PUBCO is really doing is showing bald contempt for the efforts of the public health community, the duly-elected City Council, and a majority of their fellow Ottawa citizens.

Most restaurant and bar owners know that the pattern is clear. Smoke-free environments are increasingly the rule for hospitals, airlines, workplaces, shopping centres … and the hospitality sector. Yet PUBCO would suggest there is something sinister about making similar progress for workers and patrons in Ottawa's pubs and restaurants.

In issuing its clarion call to resistance, PUBCO defiantly claims: "We do not need an army of bureaucrats telling us how to run our businesses." Does this declaration apply to the "army of bureaucrats" who monitor underage drinking, food preparation, credit card fraud? Will they deny public health inspectors access to their kitchens? Would you feel safe going to a bar or restaurant that claimed to be a law unto itself?

PUBCO Denies Health Risks

In language that is reminiscent of big tobacco's past denials of tobacco's cancerous consequences, PUBCO's newsletter has this to say on second hand smoke: "To add to the mess, much of the scientific "evidence" on the supposed hazards of second-hand smoke used by the Health Department to justify the imposition of the ban was based on a US report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)." If the PUBCO crowd want you to believe that second-hand smoke is not a killer, then it makes even less sense for them to argue for designated smoking rooms (DSRs). Instead, they lobby for a costly non-solution to a problem they claim is just a theory.

Keep in mind that separately ventilated designated smoking rooms have been studied and widely rejected. The scientific record is clear. It would take hurricane-force winds to bring smoke exposure down to even arguably acceptable levels. Members of OCSH sat through the 14 hours of debate at Committee of Council, and it was clear that the hospitality sector was very divided on wanting DSRs in the no-smoking bylaws.

In a recent newsletter, PUBCO's Interim President, Jill Scott, admits that, following the tragic attacks of September 11th, she "cannot help but feel how insignificant a smoking bylaw must seem in light of these events." Well, she's right and she's wrong. Day-to-day concerns do seem to pale as sadness and anxiety linger in the wake of September 11th. But the unspeakably horrid acts in New York City and Washington, like others elsewhere, past and future, should only cause us to redouble our efforts to do what's right. And Ottawa's smoke-free bylaws are right. This is a measure that, without doubt, will save lives. We may feel powerless to combat terrorists directly, but we can act in ways that help our fellow citizens to live longer, healthier lives. Jill Scott argues that PUBCO members "must persevere" in their fight but, in fact, it's the City's bylaws that need preserving-not the interests of a few renegade businesses.

PUBCO Makes Bogus Claims of Support

According to the PUBCO website, a recent fundraising golf tournament enjoyed the support of Molson's and the Ottawa Senators. Is it true? We checked. Turns out PUBCO's claim that "special thanks must go out to Molson Breweries and the Ottawa Senators who pulled out all the stops on this one" is bogus. The Ottawa Senators have denied lending any support for PUBCO or the golf tournament. Why would PUBCO want you to think that Molson's and the Ottawa Senators are actively supporting second-hand smoke? We haven't heard back from Molson's yet-but we're taking bets.

PUBCO's Future

In January 1999 the City of Victoria passed their Clean Air Bylaw, similar to Ottawa's new smoke-free bylaws. A furious lobby by a small band of publicans followed. You can still visit Victoria's pro-tobacco website at http://www.mcdpri.com/victoria/press.html. How long did the protest last? The website was last updated March 2000.

Experience in Canada and across North America is clear-people support smoke-free environments. Short-term consequences are expected but are still short-term consequences. PUBCO may not "buy" the health consequences of second hand smoke, and they may have imaginary corporate friends … but they can't rewrite history or reality. After extensive hearings, Ottawa's City Council voted unanimously in favour of smoke-free bylaws-bylaws that are widely supported by city residents and that protect the health

OCSH Sets the Facts Straight »