Tobacco

General Information

Ensuring that provincial smoking (tobacco/cannabis/vaping) laws are followed is an important part of helping all of us lead healthier lives. Lakelands Public Health conducts ongoing inspections/complaint investigations to make sure the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) is followed in enclosed workplaces/public places and smoke-free outdoor spaces. These activities are also conducted at places where tobacco/e-cigarettes are sold to keep them out of the hands of our youth. The enforcement of cannabis vendors is handled by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

Our goal is to ensure vendors comply with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act through education, regular inspections, and other enforcement activities.

Our services are designed to seek compliance through education. This is done by working with tobacco and e-cigarette vendors and workplace managers and supervisors by providing information and support to help them fulfill their obligations under the Act.

Where are people allowed to use cannabis?

The Smoke Free Ontario Act defines the places where people are allowed and not allowed to use cannabis. You can find this on the Ontario Government’s website here.

The City of Peterborough, Selwyn Township and Cavan-Monaghan Township have municipal by-laws that further restrict smoking and only currently deal with the smoking of medical cannabis and tobacco products. It is anticipated that, in consultation with stakeholders, revisions will be necessary to regulate the smoking of recreational cannabis.

Multi-Unit Dwellings

The SFOA prohibits smoking and vaping in the indoor common areas of condominiums, apartment buildings, and college and university residences. This includes elevators, stairwells, hallways, parking garages, laundry facilities, lobbies, exercise areas and party or entertainment rooms.  Any individual who violates the prohibition on smoking and vaping in the indoor common areas of a condominium, apartment building or university or college residence may be charged and if convicted, may face a maximum fine of $1,000 (for a first offence) or $5,000 (for any further offence).

Owners, operators and persons responsible for multi-unit dwellings must ensure that smoking and vaping laws are followed by doing the following:

• Give notice to the residents and visitors that smoking and vaping is prohibited in the indoor common areas of the building.
• Post “No Smoking” and “No Vaping” signs, or a dual “No Smoking and No Vaping” sign at entrances, exits and washrooms of the indoor common areas, in appropriate locations and in sufficient numbers, to ensure that residents and visitors are aware that smoking and vaping is not allowed.
• Ensure that no ashtrays or similar items remain in the indoor common areas.
• Ensure that persons do not smoke or vape in the indoor common areas.
• Ensure that someone who refuses to comply with Ontario’s smoking and vaping laws does not remain in the indoor common area.

Ministry of Health Fact Sheet – Multi-Unit Residences

Ministry of Health Fact Sheets

French versions available by contacting us at 1-844-575-4567.

Campuses 2020

Child Care Centres 2020

Community Rec Facilities 2020

Enclosed Public Places 2020

Enclosed Workplaces 2020

Flavoured Tobacco 2020

Flavoured Vapour Products 2020

Home Health Care 2020

Hotels, Motels and Inns 2020

Motor Vehicles 2020

Playgrounds 2020

Residential Care Facilities 2020

Restaurants and Bars 2020

Retailer Fact Sheet 2020

Schools 2020

Specialty Vape Stores 2020

Sporting Areas 2020

Tobacconists 2020

Looking for information on how to quit? 

More information for parents/caregivers on smoking and vaping.

here are many places in Ontario where the public is protected from exposure to secondhand smoke and vapour from cigarettes, cannabis, and e-cigarettes (vapes).

Some examples of the outdoor places protected by the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA) include:

• school property (and public areas within 20 metres of the school’s grounds),
• patios at restaurants and bars, and the public areas within 9 metres of the patio,
• children’s playgrounds and the public areas within 20 metres of children’s playgrounds,
• community recreation centres and arenas, and any public areas within 20 metres of its grounds, and,
• publicly owned sports fields and spectator viewing areas, and the public areas within 20 metres of these places.

Additional information is available here.

Lakelands Public Health can answer questions or respond to complaints about exposure to smoking or vaping in any of these areas by calling 1-844-575-4567 or use:

Secondhand Smoke and Vapour online form: 

ALL INFORMATION REMAINS ANONYMOUS

Where does my complaint go?

Lakelands Public Health will receive this complaint based on the information you provide and a local Tobacco Enforcement Officer (TEO) will follow up. Please note that TEOs are not available to be dispatched to incidents in ‘real time’, but will investigate each complaint based on the details received.

What happens to the information collected?

Lakelands Public Health will use the data to:

• ensure compliance with the SFOA
• work with municipalities to promote awareness of the SFOA, and,
• deploy resources as needed to areas identified in the data.

Call Lakelands Public health at 1-844-575-4567 if you require more information.

• Convictions Under Smoke Free Ontario Act 
• Smoke-Free Ontario Act 
• Where You Can’t Smoke or Vape – Government of Ontario 
• HKPR District Health Unit Quit Smoking and Vaping

Smoking Prohibited in Outdoor Public Spaces for Everyone’s Health

Lakelands Public Health is reminding residents and visitors that both the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and municipal smoking by laws restrict smoking in area parks, playgrounds, beaches and sports fields.

• The Smoke-Free Ontario Act protect people from outdoor exposure to second hand smoke in public spaces including parks, playgrounds, beaches, and sports fields
• The norms are changing – people want smoke-free outdoor spaces
• It’s not just a nuisance! Even outdoors there is no safe level of exposure to second hand smoke
• Even outdoors, second hand smoke is toxic
• Positive, smoke-free role-modelling is especially important for youth

Since the introduction of the Smoke Free Ontario Act in 2006, public demand for smoke-free outdoor spaces has been increasing and has resulted in the creation of bylaws and policies that go beyond the scope of the Act.

These bylaws are posted on their websites:

City of Peterborough

Cavan-Monaghan

Selwyn

Not only do smoke-free parks and outdoor public spaces keep children safe from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke they also denormalize tobacco use. They help protect the environment from toxic cigarette butts. They are an important part of the changing social norms and landscape that will help us reduce the prevalence of smoking.

Everyone needs to do their part!

Smoke-free parks can only be achieved if all park users cooperate with the rules and gently remind others to comply. Evaluations of smoke free parks bylaws from other communities show that these by-laws “enforce themselves”. In other words, once the signage is erected, parents and smokers themselves ensure that these public spaces become smoke-free. A good example of this is the Tobacco-Free Sports and Recreation movement which has resulted in sport organizations creating their own policies requiring players, volunteers and spectators to be tobacco-free during games.

Smoke Free Private Places

Property owners can create their own rules for spaces which they own and are not included in the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, especially outdoor areas like entrances and exits. These types of bans are enforced by the owners themselves; for example, smoke-free entrances at malls are enforced by security personnel. Similarly, homeowners and landlords have the authority to make their own properties smoke-free.

There has been a remarkable amount of change over the past decade creating indoor smoke-free spaces thanks to the collective effort of the public, private and health agencies. With your help, we can do the same for outdoor spaces so everyone can breathe easy and enjoy healthy living!

There is no safe level of second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke is the smoke that is blown into the air, and the smoke that enters the air from the burning end of a cigarette. There are more than 7000 chemicals in second-hand smoke and more than 69 of these can cause cancer.

Protection from second hand smoke in the home setting is created through rules made by the home owner. If you live in a rented space then the landlord can determine whether smoking is allowed within the unit or not. This does not mean that landlords can reject an application or evict you simply because you smoke.

Who is affected by second-hand smoke in the home?

• Second hand smoke can be inhaled by other people or pets and will stick to surfaces (this is known as third hand smoke).
• In adults, second-hand smoke can cause heart disease and lung cancer. It is also linked to breast cancer, stroke, nasal and sinus cancers and breathing problems, including asthma.
• In children, second-hand smoke can cause ear infections and breathing problems. Second-hand smoke may also increase the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• In pregnant women, second-hand smoke is linked to miscarriage, stillbirths or giving birth to low birth weight babies.
• In dogs and cats, second-hand smoke is linked to cancer and other health problems

If you live in a building with many units (multi-unit dwelling)

If your home is connected to others (apartments, townhouses, condominimum, etc) then you will be affected by your neighbours’ second hand smoke.

There are many ways that smoke gets into other people’s homes:

• Through open doors and windows (from a patio or balcony)
• Through outlets, cracks, gaps, cable or phone jacks, and ceiling fixtures
• Through shared vents

How can I protect myself and those in my care?

• Make a rule for your home that requires everybody to smoke outside.
• The Smoke-Free Ontario Act bans smoking in enclosed areas that are used by everyone (lobbies, elevators, stairwells, hallways). This type of ban is enforced by health unit staff; contact us.
• When picking a place to live, look for a building that has banned smoking and states it in the lease agreement. This type of ban is enforced by the landlord.
• Talk to your landlord/owner/condo board about banning smoking in your building. If you want help with raising awareness contact us.
• Get informed: Read about examples from across Ontario. Smoke-Free Housing Ontario www.smokefreehousingon.ca
• You have a right to ‘reasonable enjoyment’ of your home whether you own it or rent it. The Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board at 1-888-332-3234 or www.ltb.gov.on.ca. The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario 1-866-598-0322 or www.hrto.ca/hrto

Reference

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2010). How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease. The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Diseases: A Report of the Surgeon General.

Enforcement

Ensuring that provincial tobacco and electronic cigarette (vaping) laws are followed is an important part of helping all of us lead healthier lives. Lakelands Public Health conducts ongoing inspections to make sure the Smoke-Free Ontario Act is followed in enclosed workplaces/public places and smoke-free outdoor spaces. Inspections are also done at places where tobacco/e-cigarettes are sold to keep them out of the hands of our youth.

Our goal is to ensure vendors comply with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act/Electronic Cigarette Act through education and regular inspections.

Our services are designed to seek compliance through education. This is done by working with tobacco vendors, vendors of related products and workplace managers and supervisors by providing information and support to help them fulfil their obligations under the Act.

The Tobacco Enforcement Unit can be contacted by calling 1-844-575-4567

Learn more about the Smoke-Free Ontario Act

Lakelands Public Health's Tobacco Control Officers (TCOs)/Tobacco Enforcement Officers (TEOs) are designated as Provincial Offences Officers by the Province of Ontario with authority to enforce the SFOA. 

In the community, TCOs/TEOs are responsible to make sure that all public spaces and workplaces (including work vehicles) are compliant with the SFOA banning smoking and vaping. They also check that stores selling tobacco and vaping products, follow the rules about selling to people who are underage.  

Duties of Tobacco Control Officers 

• Inspect local businesses, public places, schools and workplaces to ensure proper No-Smoking signage is posted as required. 
• Public places include parks, sport facilities (indoor and outdoor), splash pads and playgrounds where children and other community members may be exposed to harm from tobacco and vaping products 
• Inspect tobacco and vapour product vendors to ensure they are complying with the advertising and promotion restrictions identified in the SFOA. 
• Inspect tobacco and vapour product vendors using youth test shoppers to ensure stores will not sell tobacco or vapour products to anyone under 19 years of age. 

• Lay charges where necessary and follow through court process. 
• Respond to complaints and requests from the public for assistance to ensure compliance with the SFOA laws. 
• Inspect local businesses, public places, schools and workplaces to ensure appropriate signage that is required to be posted by the SFOA is in place. 
• Age restriction signage, prohibited areas and radius (i.e. 20 metres from school properties, community recreational facilities, 9 metres from restaurant/bar patios), etc.

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA) is a law that controls how tobacco, vaping, and cannabis can be sold, supplied, used, shown, and promoted in Ontario. The SFOA is enforced by Public Health Unit Tobacco Control Officers (TCOs)/Tobacco Enforcement Officers (TEOs). The SFOA helps keep our public spaces and workplaces smoke-free and healthy. 

There are many benefits to smoke-free spaces, including: 

• Reducing the health risks of second-hand smoke exposure: 
• Infants and children (asthma concerns) 
• Adults (respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses) 
• Females (breast cancer attributed to second hand smoke) 
• De-normalizing tobacco use. 
• Children who see adults using tobacco or vape products may feel that when they become adults, this is the adult thing to do. 
• Creating a healthier environment. 
• Waste from tobacco products pollute our environment. 
• Chemicals from tobacco or vape products are long lasting. 
• Plastics in tobacco cigarette filter are long lasting. 

Places of Use 

• The Smoke-Free Ontario Act defines the places where you can and cannot smoke or vape in Ontario.  
• Multi-unit residences 2018
• Retailers 2019
• Sporting area 2018
• Waterpipe 2018

• You observe a store sell a tobacco or vapour product to someone who appears under 25 years of age and no identification is requested.  
• Someone you work with is smoking inside the workplace or a work vehicle. 
• You have a question about how the SFOA applies to your business. 
• You are opening a new business and you wish to sell tobacco and/or vapour products. 

Call us at 1-844-575-4567 and speak to a Tobacco Control Officer/Tobacco Enforcement Officer. We accept and investigate anonymous complaints!