Next to the controversial bylaw limiting the
number of dogs in any house, the most heated debate at city hall
during 2002 had to be the one that revolved around a motion to make
Sudbury smoke free.
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After numerous public hearings over several
months, city council passed a motion in mid-November that invoked a
100 per cent ban on smoking in public places and workplaces as of
May 31.
And as part of the motion the elected officials
endorsed a phase out of smoking in ventilated rooms at bingo halls
in May of 2004 ? something many people still fear could
have a big impact on revenues directed from the halls to local
charities.
Before the final vote in November, the new owner
of Bingo Country was allowed to make a final pitch to
councillors.
Mike Orser purchased his hall during the spring
for $1.5 million.
Orser reminded the politicians about the huge
amount of money that flows from the halls to charities and the
detrimental effects anti-smoking legislation has had in other
Ontario communities.
In 2001 alone the charities raised $5.4 million
in Sudbury.
That figure increased to $25 million when the
tally was calculated over the last five years.
Local municipal government benefited to the tune
of slightly over $600,000 last year and $3 million over the last
five years.
Wages at Bingo Halls added up to $1.7 million in
2001.
Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe,
gave the other side of the story before the vote. Her message was
that tobacco is a killer in the community.
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the
smoking ban.
After the meeting past president of the Ontario
Division of the Cancer Society, Helen Ghent, told Northern Life she
was absolutely ecstatic.
?I?m so proud of our
council,? said Ghent.
?In the end nobody?s going to
lose.?
