Campaign Timeline
The City of Ottawa set an international standard in tobacco control when it adopted the smoke-free indoor bylaws in 2001. Over the years, Ottawa fell behind hundreds of jurisdictions in Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia that adopted smoke-free legislation for both indoor and outdoor work places and public places. Ottawa residents, workers and tourists deserved the same level of protection from second-hand smoke in outdoor spaces.
In 2010, the Ottawa Council on Smoking or Health launched a smoke-free outdoor spaces campaign, urging the City of Ottawa to update the smoke-free bylaws to include:
- Parks
- Playgrounds
- Beaches
- Recreational playing fields and sports fields
- Post-secondary school campuses
- Construction sites
- Hospital properties
- Outdoor spectator events, festivals, fairs
- Fruit and vegetable markets
- Property within 9 meters of doorways of multi-unit dwellings, public buildings and municipal buildings
- Hotels, motels and bed and breakfast establishments.
Milestones in the Smoke-Free Outdoor Spaces Campaign:
- August 25, 2010: The Ottawa Council on Smoking or Health and Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada hold a news conference to present the results of Dr. Ryan Kennedy’s scientific study of air quality on some restaurant and bar patios in Ottawa. The study revealed hazardous levels of small particulate matter when tobacco smoke was present, thus posing a significant health risk to hospitality workers and the public.
- August 25, 2011: Ottawa City Council adopts Councillor Stephen Blais’ notice of motion requesting Ottawa Public Health to review and report back by spring 2012 on the public health value of smoke-free public beaches, parks and all outdoor patios before 8 p.m.
- September 14, 2011: Ottawa City Council adopts Councillor Blais’ motion requesting the Ottawa Board of Health to:
- Review and report back on the public health value of creating 100% smoke-free public beaches and parks.
- Create smoke-free zones within parks and beaches.
- Make all outdoor patios smoke-free before 8 p.m.; and regulating waterpipe establishments.
- September 19, 2011: The Ottawa Board of Health unanimously carries a motion directing city staff to:
- Study and develop recommendations to update Ottawa’s smoke free by-laws by including all public beaches and parks, all municipal property, all outdoor patios, and other venues where the public is exposed to second-hand smoke.
- Conduct public consultations on updating the smoke-free bylaws.
- Regulate waterpipe establishments.
- October 2011: Ottawa Public Health launches online consultations and public meetings on smoke-free outdoor spaces.
- October 14, 2011: Ottawa Public Health releases the results of an Ipsos Reid survey showing strong public support for smoke-free outdoor spaces.
- January 16, 2012: Ottawa Board of Health meeting:
- The Ottawa Council on Smoking or Health presents 2,600 postcards signed by Ottawa residents and tourists who support a smoke-free outdoor bylaw and receives a Smoke-Free Champions Award for its advocacy work on smoke-free outdoor spaces.
- Ottawa Public Health tables two reports: Cancer in Ottawa 2012 and Morbidity and Mortality in Ottawa 2012. Both reports show that smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke cause high rates of cancer, heart disease, lung disease, disability and death among Ottawa residents.
- January 17, 2012: The Ottawa Council on Smoking or Health delivers 2,600 postcards signed by Ottawa residents and tourists who support smoke-free outdoor spaces to Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.
- February 6, 2012: Ottawa Board of Health meeting:
- The Ottawa Council on Smoking or Health gives a deputation in support of smoke-free outdoor spaces and increased smoking cessation programs.
- Ottawa Public Health submits Let’s Clear the Air: A Renewed Strategy for a Smoke-Free Ottawa which recommends:
- Expanding the smoke-free bylaw to all restaurant and bar patios at all times, and to all outdoor spaces on municipal property (parks, beaches, sports fields, fruit/vegetable markets, festivals and events).
- Increased smoking cessation support.
- A public awareness campaign about the dangers of exposure to second-hand smoke outdoors and smoking tobacco and water pipes.
- Advocating for changes to provincial and federal tobacco laws to address gaps (e.g. banning the smoking of waterpipes in public place.
- The Ottawa Board of Health:
- Approves Let's Clear the Air: A Renewed Strategy for a Smoke-Free Ottawa and directs city staff to report back to the Ottawa Board of Health by the end of Q2 in 2013 on the progress on the renewed strategy.
- Approves writing to the Federal Minister of Health and all Ottawa area Members of Parliament to request that the Tobacco Act be clarified or amended to include water pipes.
- Approves writing to the Provincial Minister of Health and all Ottawa area Members of Provincial Parliament to request that the Smoke-Free Ontario Act be amended to include the smoking of other weeds, substances and water pipes, and to provide Tobacco Enforcement Officers with the authority to search, seize and test product when conducting an inspection.
- Approves writing to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care to expand access to nicotine replacement therapy in the community.
- Recommends that the Community and Protective Services Committee recommend that Ottawa City Council amend the smoke-free bylaws to include patios, parks, beaches, sports fields, and fruit/vegetable markets and festivals/events on city property.
- February 15, 2012: Community and Protective Services Committee meeting:
- The Ottawa Council on Smoking or Health gives a deputation in support of smoke-free outdoor spaces.
- The Community and Protective Services Committee:
- Receives Ottawa Public Health's report on Let's Clear the Air: Renewed Strategy for a Smoke-Free Ottawa.
- Unanimously approves amending the smoke-free bylaws to include patios, parks, beaches, sports fields, and fruit/vegetable markets and festivals/events on city property.
- Directs city staff to report back on how the city can “prohibit lighted water pipes and similar smoking implements” at all city parks, beaches, facilities and buildings.
- Requests that the Mayor write to the Ontario Minister of Finance to clarify the authority of tobacco enforcement officers to inspect and seize contraband tobacco and amend the Tobacco Tax Act if necessary to authorize tobacco enforcement officers to seize contraband tobacco.
- February 22, 2012: Ottawa City Council meeting:
- Approves the February 15, 2012 recommendations of the Community and Protective Services Committee.
- Adopts the smoke-free outdoor bylaw.
- Directs city staff to “efficiently and robustly enforce compliance of the City’s by-laws with respect to non-smoking, as well as the use of water pipes and similar smoking implements using tobacco where business establishments are licensed by the City.”
- April 2, 2012: Ottawa’s smoke-free outdoor bylaw comes into effect. The following spaces are 100% smoke free at all times:
- All outdoor areas on municipal properties including parks, playgrounds, beaches, sports fields, and outdoor areas around city facilities.
- ByWard and Parkdale Market stands.
- Outdoor restaurant and bar patios.
- June 21, 2012: Community and Protective Services Committee meeting:
- The City Clerk and Solicitor tables a Report on the Smoking of Water pipes and Non-Tobacco Products on Municipal Property.
- The Community and Protective Services Committee recommends banning the smoking of water pipes and other non-tobacco products on outdoor municipal property, including parks, beaches and facilities.
- June 27, 2012: Ottawa City Council bans the smoking of water pipes and other non-tobacco products on outdoor municipal property, including parks, beaches and facilities.
- July 2, 2012: Enforcement of the smoke-free outdoor bylaw begins.
- August 20, 2012: Ottawa Public Health submits an Update on the Renewed Strategy for a Smoke-Free Ottawa to the Ottawa Board of Health.
