Compromise reached on 100% Smoke Free

The deal wasn't done in a smoke-filled backroom, because not one of our 12 City Councillors is a smoker.

But SooToday.com has learned that a compromise has been brokered in the 100% Smoke Free motion that will go before City Council on Monday.

The original motion would have asked Councillors to prohibit smoking in all indoor public and work places effective World No Tobacco Day, May 31, 2003.

Delayed by one year

That motion, we've learned, will be replaced by a revised version calling for the ban to take effect one year later, when the City's current smoking bylaw expires on June 4, 2004.

Council has been under heavy pressure to allow exemptions to the ban, but no such changes are expected to be made to the re-tooled motion, which insiders say has sufficient support to pass with as many as four votes to spare.

Sault Ste. Marie Mayor John Rowswell said this afternoon that the 'pro' and 'con' sides will each have 30 to 45 minutes to make presentations to Council.

This news E-mailed to our subscribers at 2:37 p.m. Thursday

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