Overview of Smoke-free Legislation in Ontario

Smoke-free public places and workplaces are an important part of making Peel Region a healthier place to live and work.

History of Smoke-free Legislation in Ontario

1994

The Tobacco Control Act was passed by the Ontario provincial government in 1994. This legislation prohibited smoking in various public settings. These settings included retail and financial establishments, transit shelters, educational facilities, video and amusement arcades, self-serve laundries, day nurseries, hospitals and pharmacies. This legislation also gave local municipalities the power to further restrict smoking in other public places.

1997

In 1997, the Ontario Ministry of Health issued its Mandatory Health Programs and Services Guidelines for public health departments. In these guidelines, public health departments were directed to "increase the proportion of smoke-free public places and workplaces to 100 per cent by the year 2005."

1999

In 1999, the three municipalities in the Region of Peel passed bylaws requiring workplaces and public places to become smoke-free. With the exception of certain types of establishments (restaurants, food courts, recreation facilities, skating rinks, billiard halls, bingo halls, casinos, bars/taverns or night clubs) workplaces and public places in Peel became 100% smoke free in 1999.

2001

On June 1, 2001, restaurants, banquet halls, food courts and the food areas of recreational facilities in Peel were required to become 100% smoke-free or provide an enclosed, separately ventilated smoking room.

2003

In 2003, the Council of the Region of Peel passed the Region of Peel’s Smoke-free By-law. This by-law stipulated that all enclosed public places had to phase out their designated smoking rooms (DSRs) by June 1, 2010.

2004

June 1, 2004, represented the final phase of the implementation of the Region of Peel’s Smoke-free By-law, which required billiard halls, bingo halls, casinos, bars, nightclubs and taverns to become 100% smoke-free or provide an enclosed, separately ventilated smoking room.

2006

On May 31, 2006 the Smoke-Free Ontario Act came into effect. It amended the Tobacco Control Act (1994). This new provincial legislation supersedes the Region of Peel’s Smoke-free By-law. It requires all enclosed public places and workplaces to be now 100% smoke-free (i.e. no designated smoking rooms DSRs). This eliminated designated smoking rooms (DSRs) from billiard halls, bingo halls, casinos, bars, nightclubs, taverns and entertainment lounges in Peel four years earlier than the Region of Peel’s Smoke-free By-law stipulates.

This legislation establishes Ontario as a leader in tobacco control by creating a uniform smoke-free environment in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places across the province. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act will protect Peel residents from second-hand smoke and will restrict access to tobacco products for our children and youth.

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