Manitoba

Winnipeg bans smoking on all restaurant and bar patios

City council passed a bylaw Thursday to ban patrons of bars and restaurants from smoking or vaping where food and alcohol is served outside.

As of April 1 vaping, smoking will be illegal on patios where food or alcohol served outside

As of April 1, 2018 people will no longer be allowed to smoke on patios attached to bars and restaurants in Winnipeg. (CBC)

City council passed a bylaw Thursday to ban patrons of bars and restaurants from smoking or vaping where food and alcohol is served outside.

Winnipeg was the last major city in Canada that allow smoking on patios.

The rule comes into force April 1.

Coun. Mike Pagtakhan (Point Douglas) said once the rule comes into force, it will prohibit both tobacco and cannabis smoking on patios.

Two councillors voted against, Couns. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) and Ross Eadie (Mynarski).

Eadie said smokers are "hooked on it" and argued prohibiting smoking on patios stigmatizes people addicted to nicotine unfairly and treats them like "slugs."