City plans to introduce a new bylaw to ban smoking on patios before 8 p.m. could affect Centretown businesses.
The City of Ottawa’s proposal to ban smoking on restaurant patios before 8 p.m. has bar owners worried about loss of customers and revenues.
One executive at a company that owns five bars in town, including James Street Pub on Bank Street and Heart and Crown on Preston Street in Little Italy, said the bylaw will “hurt business”.
He also called it a deliberate attack on the bar and restaurant industry.
Alex Munro, vice-president for business operations and development at Heart & Crown Irish Pubs says the new bylaw would drive away customers.
“We are at a real impasse when it comes to trying to pin-point our stance on this proposed smoking bylaw,” he said in an email. “I will certainly tell you that we will lose valued guests. Smokers and non-smokers are all valued guests.”
Citing public health reasons, the city council instructed the Ottawa Board of Health on Sept. 14 to review a ban on smoking on all public beaches and parks, and outdoor patios.
The city also instructed the board to involve business owners in the process, as it works to make changes on the city’s smoke-free bylaw for public places.
But for bar owners, public health does not suppress the value of being a free society and free choice.
“I believe that the business should have the option of having smoking and non-smoking sections,” Munro said.
Orléans Coun. Bob Monette, the only councillor who opposes the idea of a tighter smoking policy, upholds Munro's point.
“What concerns me is how we enforce a bylaw such as this one?” he says. “We should leave the market place to dictate on their own what they want to do.”
Monette says about 25 patios in Ottawa are already smoke-free because business owners feel there are benefits associated with the choice.
Roger Needham who drinks and smokes at James Street Pub’s patio agrees. Needham says smokers like to drink as they smoke and may not go to the bars if they can’t do both.
“They (smokers) will refrain more. They will still come, but not as much because of the inconvenience,” he says.
The Ottawa Board of Health, chaired by Coun. Diane Holmes of Somerset Ward, has until early next spring to finalise the suggested changes on the bylaw.
The board will report back to community, protective services, and the City of Ottawa with results of the review as well as operational and enforcement considerations of the changes.
Holmes was unable to comment on the work by press time. She didn’t answer telephone calls and e-mails sent to her to ask about the work awaiting the health board.
But many councillors have requested that more business owners be consulted to give them a chance to express their opinion and influence the city’s decision.
Coun. Allan Hubley of Kanata South Ward 23 is one of such councillors since he precisely recommended that businesses be engaged.
“My specific amendment also asked that business be involved in the study as they would best be able to determine the impacts and best approach,” he says.