By Lyonel Doherty

Oliver Chronicle

Enforcing the Town’s new smoking regulation bylaw might be a formidable challenge.

So agrees Oliver Parks and Recreation manager Carol Sheridan.

Sheridan and the board reviewed the proposed new bylaw recently during its regular meeting.

The bylaw pertains to all smoking, including cannabis and electronic cigarettes.

The rules prohibit anyone from smoking  within 7.5 metres of an entranceway to a public building or any air intake vent or window. In addition, smoking within 7.5 metres of a transit stop will also be prohibited.

Smoking will also not be allowed in any Town park, sports venue, playground or outdoor public space. You won’t be able to smoke on a Town street when it is used as part of a public event. And you won’t be able to smoke in a customer service area, cemetery or any place of assembly.

Exceptions to the bylaw include any designated smoking area established for a special event, and any aboriginal cultural activity.

Anyone who contravenes the bylaw risks a fine of up to $10,000 for each offence.

Shiela Lange, chair of the Oliver Parks and Recreation Society, said the board (and she personally) supports the new bylaw.

“A large part of our mandate is to promote and support a healthy lifestyle for the community, so allowing cigarette or cannabis smoke within our parks and facilities does contradict that mandate.”

Lange acknowledged that the bylaw will be a challenge to enforce, just like it is a challenge to enforce other bylaws, such as dealing with off-leash dogs.

However, not having a bylaw is not a logical solution, she pointed out.

Lange said the society realizes the bylaw may have to be amended once the full ramifications of marijuana legalization are known.

“But we believe the bylaw is a good starting point and fully support it.”

Sheridan said the parks board supports the language in the draft bylaw, specifically pertaining to the prohibitions regarding outdoor special events.

She noted the board discussed the challenge of enforcing such a bylaw, especially in Lion’s Park and Rotary Beach.

Sheridan said the other issue is the impact this might have on front-line staff working in these areas, and the budgetary implications regarding additional signage and increased bylaw enforcement.

On Monday, Town council discussed the issue at its Committee of the Whole meeting and requested staff to continue working on the draft bylaw.

Councillor Dave Mattes said the bylaw, as it stands now, is “basically making the town smoke-free.” He also asked: “Are we writing tickets for people smoking on Main Street?”

Mattes also wanted to know who would enforce the bylaw on a parade route?

“If the whole town is smoke-free, you would have to post a sign at the entrance of every road,” he said.

The councillor is also seeking clarification on designated smoking areas and how the bylaw would affect pubs and other establishments.

Mayor Ron Hovanes said he doesn’t want bylaw officers checking everyone for smoking.

Councillor Larry Schwartzenberger said they don’t want to be overzealous and are simply hoping for compliance.

Corporate Officer Diane Vaykovich said public education would take pressure off the enforcement side.