Voters said they wanted a smoking ban and Slave Lake Town council is going to do something about it. Exactly what remains to be seen.
The issue officially gets ‘on the table’ Dec. 21 when council gives first reading to a new draft of the by-law requiring a 100 per cent ban in the areas in question.
“We have a mandate to go in this direction,” said Councillor Rob Irwin at council’s committee meeting on Dec. 7.
Irwin’s comment followed discussion about differing definitions of ‘public place’ that might or might not factor into the new by-law. The matter of separate ventilation systems and separate rooms for smoking also needs talking about, Irwin said.
Community Constable Samantha Spiller reported to council that she had been seeking input from restaurant owners on the possible 100 per cent ban, after a newspaper ad failed to provoke a single response. Two or three owners have promised a written response, a couple of restaurants have recently gone totally non-smoking anyway and one restaurant has provided a written response so far. Spiller said that one owner of two downtown restaurants told her he is “very concerned” about a 100 per cent smoking ban.
“He says his customers have told him they’ll go to the truckstop,” she said.
“He feels he’ll lose all his business unless the M.D. and Sawridge (meaning the truckstop),” apply the same smoking ban.
On another note, Spiller reported that Leona’s at the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre and the new downtown bakery have both recently committed to being 100 per cent non-smoking.
After some discussion, councillors agreed to leave the details to further council meetings and just get the process started by giving it first reading at the Dec. 21 meeting.
“Let’s get the issue on the table nice and clean,” said Councillor George Snider. “You can rest assured we’re going to have delegations for the next two months.”
Mona Johnson, speaking for the Slave Lake Tobacco Reduction Coalition, confirmed the organization’s interest. The Coalition, she told The Leader, “will be at the meeting on the 21st.”

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