New Bylaw Supports Smoke-Free And Vape-Free Spaces for All

Peterborough Public Health has partnered with Peterborough Police, the City of Peterborough and Peterborough Musicfest to remind people that both the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and the Peterborough Smoking Bylaw prohibit smoking and vaping in area parks, playgrounds, beaches and sports fields, and at street festivals like Peterborough Pulse.

“Smoking rates continue to decline, but many people believe that smoking outdoors is harmless when in fact there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke,” says Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “Actively enforcing the bylaw will both protect people from toxic second-hand smoke and support a reduction in smoking rates.”

New this year will be the inclusion of e-cigarettes or "vapes" in the City of Peterborough’s bylaw. City Council approved the revised bylaw on July 9th, 2018.

“We’re learning more about e-cigarettes and what’s in them,” adds Dr. Salvaterra. “Just because e-cigarettes are less harmful than conventional cigarettes, that doesn’t make them harmless.” A recent report, Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes, noted that e-cigarettes both contain and emit toxic substances.

Peterborough Police and Public Health Tobacco Enforcement Officers will be enforcing the rules in parks and at events this summer.

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