To: FORCES Canada
From: A Waterloo, Ontario area resident
Subject: Action Requested: Grand River Hospital's changing smoking policy
Date: 01 November 2001

Public servants at Grand River Hospital, Waterloo, ON have announced heartless plans to force patients, visitors and staff to travel further away from the hospital and into smoking sheds on hospital property.

The hospital claims moving ill patients further from the building is meant to 'promote health'.

While promoting current beliefs about what's healthy can be a part of our health care system, dictating these ever-changing beliefs to a free society is - without question - inexcusable.

Grand River Hospital claims 'most' support their new policy and they were under pressure to forbid all smoking on hospital property.

Freedom is not a matter of popularity. The true measure of our society is how we protect the freedoms of the minority.

Public servants at Grand River Hospital seem to have forgotten that smoking is legal in Canada, a country where 'every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to equal protection and equal benefit without discrimination.'

These public servants seem to have forgotten the reason patients, visitors and staff huddle outside the hospital is due to their previous directives that prohibit smoking inside the building.

Where one smokes outdoors is not a public health issue. Clearly Grand River Hospital's change in policy is a cruel attempt to further restrict the freedom of the hospital's smoking patients, visitors and employees. This policy change is about freedom - plain and simple.

At a time when we come together to remember those who have given their lives protecting our freedom and to give support to our soldiers now in action protecting our freedom from outside threats it is imperative we protect every Canadian's freedom from attacks originating inside our country.

I urge you to email:
info@grhosp.on.ca
and
dennis_egan@hosp.on.ca
at Grand River Hospital.

- Tell them you value your freedom.
- Tell them you want Grand River Hospital to respect the rights and freedoms of your friends and neighbors who have chosen to smoke.
- Ask them to provide smoking areas for patients, visitors and employees inside the hospital

Please send this to your friends as well. Perhaps they'll too be able to help.

Thanks.