B.C. cabinet approves smoking rules

By JENNIFER LANG

BAR AND restaurant owners learned last week they’ll have nearly four months to comply with new rules allowing patrons to smoke inside their establishments.

Coast Inn of the West manager Doug Barrett expressed relief that the long-running debate is over,

He and other members of the industry had lobbied against a blanket smoking ban because it

was bad for business. The B.C. government’s rules, which allow separate,

tilated smoking sections in bars,

pubs restauranis, casinos bingo halls, were approved cabinet meeting Jan. 16.

The province will now direct the Worker’s Compensation Board to implement the ‘revised regula-

tions.

“We're satisfied that it’s deci- ded on,” Barrett said. “I don’t call it a win-win. It’s a compromise.”

He’ll have until May 1 to en- sure designated smoking rooms in the hotel’s restaurant and night club meet the new regulations.

Until he sees the WCB's prac-

From front

NWBC drops bid to buy Skeena

would be in place by Feb. 15.

He said it would be easy — but wrong — to put together a low-ball bid si- milar to Mercer’s for the company.

He said more time was important’ to assemble more money to finance ca- pital upgrades to make the operation viable for the long term. “$150 million is what is required to bring this business back to life,” he said.

Veniez said he has ruled out legal action to get its bid reconsidered, saying the eventual pur- chaser must have Victor- ia’s support.

“They're telling

us..we.dant mat: |. ter; weehould: juste. hop into bed with: -

whichever compa- ny ‘they. want to throw at us.”

“We can’t get off on the wrong foot and get into a hostile takeover,” he Said.

The only way NWBC might consider renewing its offer, he said, is if the Mercer deal collapsed and the province changed its mind.

The announcement Stunned laid-off SCI saw- mili workers here, who ral- lied in front of the MLA's office at noon hour Friday.

“Ym shaken, like a lot of people,” rally organizer Allan McIntyre said.

About 60 workers gath-

Pleasa be advised that the North West Community Health Services Society (also known as North West Health Unit) has

become part of the Northern Health Authority. This changé is atfective immediately and will be reflactad in. our correspondence, bullding signage, and reception. Senice delivery, however, will not be affected.

tice Buidelines for employers, he won't know how much it will cost

to comply.

“In same ways, you have to look at it as spending money to Stay in business,” he said. “I’m hoping it is attainable without too much financial burden.”

The revised workplace smoking regulations for the hospitality in- dustry represent the first time the province has overstepped the au-

Smoking areas must be venti- lated using either an exhaust fan that vents the smoky air to the outside, through a filter system that removes smoke particles from the air, or a combination of both.

The ventilation system will have to move 35 cubic feet of air per person — per minute.

In a room that seats 20 patrons, that will mean about 750 cubic feet of air per minute.

smoking areas, those who agree can spend as much as 20 per cent of their shift in a smoking room.

That works out to two hours a day, northern medical health offi- cer Dr. Lorna Medd said.

“In what other industry do we allow workers to spend up to two hours in a proven toxic environ- ment,” Medd said,

There’s nothing preventing the city of Terrace from enacting its

thority of the WCB. “That’s barely noticeable,” own blanket ban on smoking in new “It’s their right to do that,” said McCloy said, referring to the the form of a bylaw - excepl poli- ven- WCB spokesman Scott McClure. draft. “We're not talking about a__ tical will.

and — ata

pal building codes.

Clure said.

bar or restaurant.

ered to demand Harris fight to re-open negotia- tions ta NWBC.

Many said they fear Mercer will undercapita- lize the operations, con- demning SCI to an uncer- tain future for years to come.

Log loader operator Al Chesterman denounced the government's insistence to deal only with Mercer, no- ting it has a reputation as a corporate scavenger.

“We're tired of being lied to by Mr. Harris and his: government,” Chester-

“Effective May 1 we will admin- ister that regulation and that change — that’s our job.”

He said operators who want to install designated smoking sec- tions ~ which must be structurally separate ~ will also have to meet liquor law regulations and munici-

“You can’t just threw up a wall inside a bar or restaurant,” Mc-

Designated smoking rooms can’t be any larger than 45 per cent of the total floor space in a

smoke-free.

McCloy said.

Two in the past year were for cancer. One was a fatality,

Medical health officials say the new rules deliver a devasta- ting blow to public health in

northern B.C.

“don’t matter, we should

just hop into bed with whichever company they want to throw at us, no matter what history that company has.”

Although NWBC has pulled out, Terrace mayor Jack Talstra has not ruled out trying ta vote down the Mercer deal.

All classes of creditors Must vote in favour for an eventual restructuring of Skeena Cellulose to pass. —

Towns may be lumped in with Crown creditors.

Talstra said if the towns

fan the size of New York City.” More than 85 per cent of the province’s workplaces are now

The WCB sees about claims a year related to second- hand smoke in the workplace,

Although employees won’t be forced to work in designated

City councillor David Hull, a vocal supporter of a blanket smoking ban, won't be leading the charge.

“What we're talking about is a community health issue,” Hull said. “The pressure shouldn’t come down to city hall.”

Right now, he’s more con-

10

government handled the issue.

“The really frightening, under- lying issue is the government’s unabashed ability and efforts to step in and thwart the regulatory authority of the WCB.”

oulvote the Crown and de- feat the deal.

The city is owed around $800,000 in property taxes, and the mayor said council is insisting that be paid.

Initial indications are towns will be asked to give up property tax claims, he said.

“We want our taxes paid,” Talstra said, “We will pursue whatever legal avenues we can as vigor- ously as we can and if that means not voting for the proposal that comes for- ward, then we won’t vote

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