MONTREAL - Cote-St-Luc city council voted unanimously to ban smoking in and around public parks on Monday night, ushering in the toughest anti-smoking rules in Quebec.
The new bylaw forbids smoking within 20 metres of playgrounds, parks and the municipal pool.
"There is pretty much a unanimous consensus on council that it is important to protect the health of children in our community," said Mayor Anthony Housefather.
"We want to allow people to smoke outdoors, but just not in the near vicinity of people who might not want that."
Calling his city a leader in health and safety issues, Housefather made reference to Cote-St-Luc's ban on smoking in restaurants in the 90s. The anti-smoking law was put into effect well before the Quebec government made a similar ban province-wide.
Smoking will also be banned during special events like Canada Day fireworks.
Based largely on the honour system, smokers will be fined $50 for a first offence and repeat offenders will be fined $100.
