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8 - The Canadian Champion, July 10, 1998 TAP & EATEY JOiN CLAREy &T IhE GANq EVERy IURSdAy FOR 55ONTARiO ST. N., MiLTON. 878-6697 The Can e Cela Open: Mon - Sat 10-5pm Sun 1-5pm 36 Main St. N. Campbellville, Ontario , (Iocated on the bottom level of the Scotia Bank Bldg.) E (905) 854 3842 Halton taking looking at regional smoking bylaw By BRAD REAUME The Champion Halton is investigating the possibility of uniform rules for smoking across all four area municipalities. Currently each municipality has its own smoking bylaw and they differ considerably. In Burlington and Oakville only 30 per cent of restaurant seats are desig- nated for smokers, in Milton it is 70 per cent and in Halton Hills it's 75 per cent. Food courts in Burlington malls are 100 per cent smoke free, as is Milton Mall, however Oakville and Halton Hills allow 50 per cent of the seats for smok- ing. There are other differences among the standards for bowling alleys, billiard halls, bingo and public places. Oakville alone has a bylaw regulating smoking in workplace environments. Halton council agreed recently to allow the develop- ment of a region- wide bylaw proposal after consulta- tions with municipalities. The region-wide bylaw can be enacted if three out of four Halton municipalities agree. According to a report by Dr. Bob Nosal, Halton's medical officer of health, stricter guidelines for smok- ing arc needed in noiiitalton . Towncoc l iIn Milton requested an investigation into a possible regional bylaw so the possibility will be explored. In addition the Health Protection and Promotion Act, which regulates mandatory health programs and service guidelines, suggests public places and work- places should be 100 per cent smoke free by 2005. Dr. Nosal said there are three approaches which would satisfy his concerns including: A regional bylaw; a model bylaw which local municipalities can use or new, stricter bylaws for north Halton munici- palities. Dr. Nosal's report indicates about 12,000 Ontarians die each year from illness related to tobacco use, with a surprising number affected by secondhand smoke. Dr. Nosal estimates that about 300 people in Canada die each year from the effects of secondhand smoke. He says children exposed to secondhand smoke have a 43 per cent higher risk of developing asthma and a 19 per cent higher risk of developing ear infec- tions, as well as suffering from more colds, coughs and chest infections. The model bylaw will be forwarded to regional council after it is developed. Council grapples with tax issue * from BOMB on page 3 "This assumes that everything remains status quo. There is no efficiency factor involved in these calcula- tions," said Councillor Wally Hunter. Mr. Scandlan agreed but said no amount of efficien- cy could completely take up the shortfall because some development charges are calculated on an auto- matic 10 per cent reduction of cost to cover benefits of new facilities to the existing community. "You can't get away from the responsibility for 10 per cent of that burden," he explained. Mr. Krantz pointed out that Mississauga refused to issue building permits to developers when the new development charge legislation came into effect. Mississauga insisted on negotiating arrangements to help cover the shifting costs. Concerns with commercial-industrial growth projec- tions also surfaced during the meeting. If business construction does not meet projections, which are set deliberately low, there will be an additional shift in the tax burden to residential taxpayers. Mr. Krantz pointed out that the entire report is based on a wide range of assumptions. "Service level reductions are a cost to existing resi- dents," pointed out Councillor Ron Furik. "Just remember we made a commitment to our ratepayers that this wouldn't have the kind of effect I'm seeing here." Mr. Furik said staff should come back with more detailed financial plans prior to growth that show no financial impact. WorId Cup Soccer EventJuly 12th, 1998 L at 3:00pm ) -ft m 189 Mill St. 878-6680