The Times Colonist, Victoria, BC
March 21, 1999
Island Views - LETTERS
(Letter 1)
FLAMING INSULTS
The anti-smoking letter you love to print are truly amazing. Aren't you people wonderful?
Why would Adam Kanczula's ("Get vocal") asthmatic friend recently go to a place where others smoked and stay long enough to be aware of the "high-level of second-hand smoke"? Cigarettes aren't exactly invisible.
Why did Elizabeth Cull stay in a Duncan restaurant until her hair and clothes smelled of smoke? Why, during her election campaign in the late '80s, did she sit next to people who stank of smoke at NDP meetings, and use smoking homes for election day workers, and never complain?
So sorry she had to stop in Duncan to eat after a short trip from Victoria. As far as the tourist dollar goes, I haven't eaten in Victoria since last year. Actually I have found there is no reason to go there for anything that I can't get or do in friendlier places.
By the way, if smokers can be called vile, disgusting and smelly, can others now call overweight people fat, unattractive, space-consuming and a burden on the health-care system?
Perhaps everyone might become kinder and more tolerant if you stopped printing insulting, inflammatory opinions.
J. M. Plater, Chemainus
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(Letter 2)
NARROW MINDS
Re: The Capital Regional District anti-smoking bylaw
Canada, of which Victoria needs to remind itself it is a small part of, is still a democratic society. This means freedom for individuals, minority rights, and belief in the intelligence of individuals to make up and use their own minds. It does not mean Big Brother telling you what you want you can and cannot do. Is the CRD now going to propose and enforce a "health" diet and lifestyle on us?
I am sure the bylaw is unconstitutional, a violation of the Bill of Rights of Canada. I also find it curious that in an area that is supposedly 80 per cent non-smoking that it is necessary to make such a bylaw. Why doesn't the law of the marketplace support a non-smoking bar? I would think that the non-smokers would get together and have their own bar. Can they not stand each other's company?
Why is it necessary to go into a bar to order a lemon tea? Or for meals? Haven't the non-smoking fanatics (and I do not include all non-smokers in this category) ever heard of cafes and restaurants?
Pubs are the domain of those who have soul in society. Please leave us alone to enjoy our last good social place. Start a non-smoking bar, but don't try to impose your narrow, sterile, bleached, disinfected mind set on the rest of us.
B. Tate, Victoria -
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(Letter 3)
PASSING THE BUTT
The Capital Regional District recently voted to "pass the butt" for enforcement of the no-smoking bylaw to business owners and proprietors. Initially the onus would fall to the bar and restaurant employees, whom the CRD professes the bylaw would protect. Obviously enforcement patrols fear bodily harm from hostile smoking patrons. Often officials must be escorted by local police.
The public seems unaware of the legal ramifications should intoxicated patrons kill or maim themselves or another after purchasing alcohol in a pub or restaurant.
Bar staff and owners can be sued for compensation.
Staff members daily are threatened or slugged when forced to "cut off" intoxicated clientele pursuant to liquor control board regulations. Should police assistance be required all calls are documented and forwarded to the LCB. Occasionally proprietors are fined or face periodic closure if assistance is required too frequently.
It is ridiculous to expect the hospitality industry to force compliance of a bylaw that CRD officials are either too frightened or inexperienced to enforce. Either do your own dirty work or revoke a ban that has failed miserably.
M. Lewis, Victoria