It might be a good move towards better health, but it can't be that good for business. This was the general feeling coming from members of the business community last Wednesday afternoon in the Royal Canadian Legion Hall, as local business people gathered to make comments about becoming a smoke-free city at a regular meeting of the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce.

Members of the public were also on hand at this unusually large open discussion. Latecomers to the meeting were subject to standing room only.

Speaking on behalf of South Central Health District was Donna Wolfe, who gave a brief discussion about the risks and health issues of second-hand smoke. She also discussed the Tobacco Control Act and how businesses should willingly conform and exceed the basic requirements of the law.

"Surveys are showing that population of smokers is declining and non-smokers are increasing," Wolfe stated. "The government has passed legislation to restrict smoking 100 per cent in places where children have access, but other places like restaurants, bars and bingo halls have to have 30, 40 and 60 per cent non-smoking seating over the next three years."

The Saskatchewan government has allowed local governments to rework the legislation for its own area, and it's the hope of South Central Health District to see Weyburn smoke-free as soon as possible. Local businesses owners on the other hand, don't want to concede to smoke free environments unless it becomes a provincial requirement.

"Does anyone force you to go to a specific bar, nightclub or barbershop?" questioned George Siourounis from the El Rancho Family Restaurant. "Why do you force me as a business owner to do something I don't want to do? How I run my business is my business and the government shouldn't tell me how to run my business."

Siourounis' comments throughout the meeting often provoked kudos from business owners and backlash from the group of non-smokers. The El Rancho Family Restaurant falls under a provision of the law which means his business must have a designated non-smoking area.

Under the Tobacco Control Act, billiard halls, bingo establishments, bowling centres, casinos, restaurants and bars will be required to submit to a series of increases that will take them to a minimum of 60 per cent smoke-free building space over the next three years - the first of which requires these businesses to supply a 30 per cent smoke-free environment by January 1, 2002.

The Act received Royal Assent in the Legislature on July 6, and is designed to protect the public from second-hand smoke. By January 2004, those businesses affected by the law should have the required minimum of 60 per cent enforced.

Every business which falls under the Act must supply the appropriate space for non-smoking sections, appropriate signage in the non-smoking section, and must remove all ashtrays and other tobacco-related products from those sections of the establishment. Violations in any of these areas, including something as simple as leaving an ashtray in an inappropriate area, could result in fines of up to $5,000.

"We just want it to be fair," noted Glen Hornsbey from Mr. Ribs Family Restaurant. "We support the banning of smoking, but it should be on a level playing field or it won't be supported by anyone. Some places are not responding to the idea, whether it's a health issue or not. You have the right to come through any business' door. You also have the right not to."

The Weyburn Chamber of Commerce does not currently have a point of view on the smoking issue. The organization has yet to meet to discuss the matter, however chamber president Todd Lawrence does have his own personal opinion.

"I hate cigarettes," Lawrence revealed. "I hate the way it smells and I hate the way I smell when I go to these places. If something is done on a provincial level, I'll accept it. I don't want to see our local businesses put at an unfair disadvantage, which would give people another reason to go out of town on a Saturday afternoon just to smoke at a restaurant."

Non-Smoking activists also had their say in the discussion. Weyburn resident Brenda Braun has a petition with more than 500 names of those fed up with the smoke found in public places.

"Weyburn is behind other towns acting on this," Braun remarked. "People are fed up with smoking, especially in places like the mall, where you have no choice but to go through the smoke-filled air to get to the government offices. This is a health issue that affects everyone."

The only other discussion at the Chamber meeting was information about fund-raising for Tatagwa View, a state-of-the-art long-term care facility to be built at Souris Valley, from Lee Spencer, CEO of the South Central Health District. Spencer delivered a short slide show and discussed fund-raising for the $17.5 million building.

Another hot topic to be discussed at the meeting was parking in downtown Weyburn. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to properly discuss the issue, so it was tabled to the next meeting.