Owner of inn fights anti-smoking bylaw

our wire services -

Victoria, British Columbia _ The owner of Sooke River Hotel wants to douse an upcoming bylaw making all public buildings smoke-free.

Don Rittaler filed a lawsuit Friday against the bylaw that takes effect next Jan. 1.

Rittaler contends the Capital Regional District bylaw that will ban smoking in all buildings except private residences and vehicles is contrary to the Charter of Rights and beyond the district's powers.

Rittaler hopes the courts will quash the bylaw before the deadline so smoking will be allowed in pubs and other licensed premises where minors are not allowed.

The bylaw is the only one of its type in Canada, he said. Called the Clean Air Bylaw, it fails to address substances that are more harmful than a minuscule amount of secondhand tobacco smoke, says the statement of claim.