Edmonton lights up outdoor smoking ban

A bylaw to prevent smoking near playgrounds and sports fields was passed by Edmonton city council Wednesday.

The bylaw, which also bans smoking within 10 metres of parks, skateboard parks and spray parks and ice-skating rinks, passed quickly with only Coun. Kerry Diotte voting against it.

Edmonton now has the strongest outdoor smoking legislation in all of Alberta focused on children," said Sarah Hawkins, with the Canadian Cancer Society. "We feel it's a strong and appropriate bylaw."

While the bylaw aims to prevent exposure to second-hand smoke, it will also help prevent children from seeing smoking as an acceptable activity.

"We see it as a role-modeling issue," Hawkins said. "When children don't see it, it's out of sight, out of mind. They have less exposure, they'll less likely start experimenting."

The city will start working on an education campaign, she said.

The fine will be $250.