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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 22, 2008 - 11 Council agrees smoking in car with kids stinks By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Oakville's Town Council has thrown its support behind a piece of legislation that, if adopted by the province, would ban smoking in motor vehicles when children are present. Known as Bill 11, the Private Member's Bill was introduced by Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti this past December, and has been gaining support ever since. During Tuesday's council meeting, Ward 5 Councillor Jeff Knoll called on his colleagues to add their voices to that support. "We've banned smoking in restaurants, we've banned smoking in public buildings, we've banned smoking in workplaces, but where the air is the thickest, where the space is confined and where the lungs are the youngest, we haven't done anything yet," he said. "This is a really easy thing to do that will have a huge impact on young people." Under Bill 11 police would have the authority to pull over and fine an adult who is smoking in a vehicle with a child under the age of 16. For a first offence, the adult could receive a maximum fine of $200, while a second offence could cost as much as $1,000. However, before this can happen Bill 11 needs to gain additional support. "We have to put some pressure on the province to take this bill seriously," said Knoll. "Private Member's Bills are often basically just a political game. They are something MPPs do to make a point in the legislature, but this is one that really means a lot." The value of this bill was clearly recognized by Knoll's fellow councillors who, in the end, voted unanimously to support it. "The practice of smoking in cars when children are present is repugnant and tantamount to child abuse," said Ward 6 Councillor Max Khan, who seconded Knoll's motion to have council support the bill. Ward 4 Councillor Allan Elgar also had little difficulty in deciding which way to vote. "This motion is a no-brainer," he said. "I can't imagine who would vote against it." Many Canadians would seem to agree, with a recent Ipsos Reid poll finding that 86 per cent of the non-smokers and 66 per cent of the smokers surveyed would support the type of ban Bill 11 is proposing. The reason why the bill's popularity is growing is obvious, Knoll said. "The rate of asthma and other childhood respiratory diseases is increasing year by year," he said. "When I was going to school it was rare to find kids with EpiPens and three or four puffers, but now it's commonplace. This is happening because we are doing things that are just destroying our kids' health." The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) has stated that the toxicity level from sec- ond-hand smoke is 23 times higher in a vehicle due to the confined space, while the Ontario Lung Association has noted that tobacco smoke can actually cause asthma in a healthy child. With council now on board, Knoll is calling on the citizens of Oakville to show how they feel about Bill 11 by calling their MPP and by going to the passbill11.ca, a petition site designed by Knoll. FINAL CLEAROUT LEAROUT on remaining fall and winter wear The Oakville Children's Choir Sarah Morrison Music Director Janet Stachow Associate Music Director Stories and Song in Canada and Beyond with guests BONI PUERI Czech Boys' Choir 4:30 p.m. Saturday, February 23, 2008 ClearView Christian Reformed Church 2300 Sheridan Garden Drive, Oakville $25/$15 "A Taste of Tango" "A Taste of Tango" Gala Fundraiser Thursday, April 24, 2008 Coming Soon: new spring `08 items arriving daily DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE 183 Lakeshore Road East · 905.845.8911 For information or tickets call 905.337.7104 For information or tickets call 905.337.7104 or visit www.oakvillechildrenschoir.org or visit www.oakvillechildrenschoir.org Sponsored by: Sponsored by: www.garveys.ca · Free parking at rear of store MON - WED · 9am - 6pm | THU - FRI · 9am - 8pm SAT · 9am - 6pm