Pubdate: Sun, 13 Apr 2008
Source: Burlington Post (CN ON)
Copyright: 2008 Burlington Post
Contact:  http://www.burlingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1528
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Ted+Kindos (Ted Kindos)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

SAVOLINE DISMAYED BY BILL'S DEFEAT

Burlington Mpp Sought To Close Loophole In Anti-Smoking Legislation

Burlington MPP Joyce Savoline has been unsuccessful in convincing the 
ruling Liberals to consider changing provincial smoking legislation 
that would require medical marijuana smokers to stay a minimum of 10 
feet away from some public and private buildings.

Conservative Joyce Savoline had her private member's bill, Bill 42, 
an attempt to amend Ontario's Smoke-Free Ontario Act, defeated in the 
legislature at the committee level last Thursday.

The MPP expressed dismay that the life of her bill was cut short not 
long after the previous week's first reading of her proposed changes 
to existing smoking legislation and before any public consultation occurred.

"The opposition members are being muzzled, their positive 
contributions to the province of Ontario are being squashed and the 
citizens of this province are being silenced. This is democracy at 
its worst," Savoline said in a press release.

"The committee does not have a pressing schedule, their agenda has 
more than enough room to accommodate public hearings and yet this 
government continues to refuse to hear from its own citizens," she added.

Savoline introduced Bill 42 to close what she saw as a loophole in 
the McGuinty government's anti-smoking legislation. The bill sought 
to amend the act to include the prohibition of smoking any controlled 
substance, as set out in the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act, 
within 10 feet of any enclosed public place, workplace or other 
places such as schools.

"Implementing a 10-foot rule for smoking tobacco and other substances 
will enhance the comfort of the patrons," Savoline said in her 
rationale for forwarding the bill.

She said she was inspired by the situation of Ted Kindos, the owner 
of Gator Ted's restaurant in Burlington.

"I became aware that the act did not cover marijuana or controlled 
substances," she had said ... "Mr. Kindos contacted me because he was 
experiencing difficulty with a patron smoking marijuana for medicinal 
purposes immediately outside the door of his establishment."

Kindos is awaiting a Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario hearing in May, 
following failed Ontario Human Rights Commission mediation talks in 
the wake of claims of discrimination by former longtime customer and 
medical marijuana user Steve Gibson.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom