COT Proposes to Prohibit Smoking around Playgrounds and Other Areas in City of Toronto Parks

The City of Toronto Parks  (COT) , Forestry and Recreation wants prohibit smoking in children’s recreational play areas, a wonderful idea abet with a  weakness . In their current plan they intend to have  only Parks, Forestry and Recreation By-law Enforcement Officers can are used to enforce the bylaw, is there enough of them to regularly visit all the parks in the city to be an effective deterrent? The blog has emailed the department aking the numbers of such people employed

The proposed amendment

….proposed amendments to Municipal Code, Chapter 608, Parks will prohibit smoking in children’s recreational play areas and will be enforced by By-law Officers of the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division. Smoking should be prohibited within a 9-metre radius surrounding the edge of playground safety surfaces or any playground equipment in Toronto parks, within a 9-metre radius surrounding the edge of wading pool basins or safety surfaces of splash pads and within zoos and farms operated by Parks, Forestry and Recreation. This restriction is consistent with Ontario legislation that bans smoking within a 9-metre radius of entrances and exits of hospital buildings.

The enforcement

People who smoke within the prohibited areas will be guilty of an offence under
Municipal Code, Chapter 608, Parks, and will be subject to fines imposed by Parks, Forestry and Recreation By-law Enforcement Officers. The set fines imposed for offences under Chapter 608 must be revised to include the offence of smoking in City parks within a 9-metre radius surrounding the edge of playground safety surfaces.

Proposed Amendment to Municipal Code, Chapter 608,
Parks, to Prohibit Smoking around Playgrounds and
Other Areas in City of Toronto Parks

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