March 26, 1999
To:Board of Health
From:Dr. Sheela Basrur, Medical Officer of Health
Subject:A Harmonized Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) By-law for City of Toronto: Community Input Process
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to outline a process to obtain community input on proposed options for a harmonized ETS
by-law and strategies to achieve smoke-free public places in the City of Toronto as set out in the attached document dated
March 26, 1999 from the Medical Officer of Health, entitled "A Harmonized Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)
By-law for the City of Toronto".
Financial Implications:
None, for the public consultation process prior to Council approval. Additional one-time funding will be required in 1999
and 2000 for public communication, for which provincial funding will be sought.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Board of Health:
- Adopt the process outlined in this report to seek public input on the proposed ETS by-law for the City of Toronto, and
- Forward the attached policy options and recommendations paper to community councils for staff presentation and
deputations.
Background and Discussion:
Historically, public consultation has played an important part in the development of Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)
by-laws in all of the former municipalities. Public and stakeholder input towards the policy options has been obtained
through a variety of means, including community meetings, focus groups and public opinion surveys. Public input to the
proposed by-law has been formally sought through deputations at boards of health and at city councils.
During the past year, Toronto Public Health has consulted with the health and hospitality sectors as well as the public, on
an Environmental Tobacco Smoke by-law that is protective of health for the new City of Toronto. The attached document
from the Medical Officer of Health provides a comprehensive review of issues related to Environmental Tobacco Smoke,
along with policy options and recommendations for a new by-law.
Public and stakeholder input on the recommendations can be obtained through a deputation process similar to that followed
in the past, with the addition of deputations at community councils to ensure local input. The following process and
time-line is recommended:
|
Process |
Meeting Date(s) |
| Board of Health |
Board of Health to refer the Medical
Officer of Health's public consultation
document to Community Councils for staff
presentation and deputations. |
April 6, 1999 |
| Community
Councils |
Public deputations with recommendations
from Community Councils referred to the
Medical Officer of Health and the City
Solicitor for consideration and
recommendations back to the Board of
Health. |
May 26 and 27, 1999 |
| Board of Health |
The Medical Officer of Health and the City
Solicitor to report back to Board of Health
on June 28, 1999 at which time the Board
will hear deputations on the original public
consultation document and any follow-up
staff reports, including the solicitor's draft
by-law. The Board of Health will debate
the issue at a special meeting on June 29,
1999 and forward its recommendations to
City Council for consideration. |
June 28 and 29, 1999 |
Conclusion:
The public consultation process outlined in this report will ensure input from a variety of interests prior to the by-law's
enactment by Council.
Contact Name:
Liz Janzen
Regional Director, South Region
Tel:392-7458
Fax:392-0713
Dr. Sheela V. Basrur
Medical Officer of Health
