Correspondence: Letter from Vancouver Island Health Authority Re: Reduce Tobacco Use

May 1, 2012

Mayor Graham Hill and Council The Town of View Royal 45 View Royal Avenue Victoria, BC V9B 1A6

Dear Mayor Hill and Members of Council:

Tobacco consumption has decreased dramatically in the past few decades. Nonetheless, tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of premature death in Canada and a leading draw on finite health care resources. Jurisdictions have risen to the challenge. The Capital Regional District has benefited from enacting healthy public policies which have translated into healthier populations and engaged youth. Smoking rates are lowest in the South Island at only 11.8%, and are 40% higher in the remainder of the region at 16.0%. In total there are still about 95,000 daily smokers in the area served by the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA).

The province of British Columbia has adopted a minimum standard for tobacco control through the Tobacco Control Act. This legislation normalizes what many communities had previously implemented through their insightful and forward thinking regulatory actions. The recent provincial efforts on supporting tobacco consumers in their efforts to stop smoking through Quit Now and nicotine replacement therapy are also to be commended.

The efforts of the industry nevertheless are relentless. We are faced with new challenges by products and marketing that continues to recruit youth and young adults into an addiction that leads to half of tobacco users dying from the use of tobacco.

The announcement by the BC government of the Healthy Families BC — Healthy Communities activities invites local governments to contribute to the health and wellbeing of their citizens with a focus on five areas, one of which is tobacco control. We would invite you to use this opportunity to contribute to the BC — wide initiative, to partner with Vancouver Island Health Authority and work together to promote and protect the health of the residents of your community. Repeated surveys have demonstrated the overwhelming public support for local regulations which restrict the public consumption and use of smoking and tobacco products. The vast majority of citizens recognize such action as a demonstration of laudable healthy public policy by local government.

Vancouver Island communities and the province of BC have been national leaders in the efforts to reduce disease caused by tobacco use and smoking. While the current Tobacco Control regulations have been successful in achieving their intended goals, additional actions are needed to bring communities of VIHA in line with the best smoking control practices in place in the province and Canada. As the Medical Health Officers for the region of Vancouver Island we request that local governments now take steps to further the efforts to reduce tobacco use, reduce exposures to "second hand" smoke, and to model a tobacco free lifestyle. Specifically, we ask that local government revisit and strengthen tobacco control bylaws to include the following provisions should they not currently already be addressed:

• Prohibit smoking and tobacco use in areas shared by the public, specifically: public spaces, beaches, parks, sports fields, athletic facility stands, and outdoor areas of municipal facilities.
• The current provincial legislation precludes smoking within three meters of doorways, open windows and air intakes. However, a minimum of seven meters is required in outdoor areas to better protect the public and should be the prescribed distance in regulation.
• Areas not included in the Tobacco Control Regulation, namely: outdoor patios (currently exempted by regulation), transit stops (not just shelters), and where individuals are required to queue for the receipt of any service should also be prohibited.
• A developing health threat is associated with the use of Hookah/water pipes. Regardless of the material smoked in these devices the same restrictions as tobacco should be instituted through legislation. Consideration also should be given to preclude the sale and public use of Hookah pipes within the boundary of geographic regions of local governments.

All residents of the island will appreciate the additional value of consistent island — wide policies where smoking is not permitted. Hence this request is being forwarded to all local governments concurrently.

We would further request that your council consider forwarding and supporting resolutions to the UBCM process that call upon the province to implement similar, more stringent provisions in revisions to the Tobacco Control Act. Such resolutions may take time before implementation, hence the importance of your council in acting now to protect and promote the health of your constituents.

We as the Medical Health Officers would be pleased to present to council, work with your administration as requested, provide suggested modifications to existing or new by-laws or review proposed by-laws and provide comment on your endeavors.

Richard Stanwick, CMHO MD MSc, FRCPC FAAP South Vancouver Island

Paul Hasselback MD, MSc, FRCPC Central Vancouver Island

Murray Fyfe MD, MSc, FRCPC South Vancouver Island

Charmaine Enns MD, MHSc, FRCPC North Vancouver Island

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Contact Information

NORTH ISLAND 250.331.8591 Charmaine Enns MD MHSc FRCPC

CENTRAL ISLAND 250.755.6304 Paul Hasselback MD MSc FRCPC

SOUTH ISLAND 250.519.3406 Richard Stanwick, CMHO MD MSc FRCPC FAAP Murray Fyfe MD MSc FRCPC Dee Hoyano MD FRCPC CCFP