Relayed
by GLOBALink - The International Tobacco-Control Network
Smoke Vote
Won't be Free
by BRIAN
FLINN / The Daily News
Source: Halifax (NS) Daily News, 2002-05-15, via tobacco.org
Region: CANADA
Category: Smokefree Policies
URL:
http://www.canada.com/halifax/story.asp?id=%7B3E626D86-7AB8-4123-8F65-A9251B42B7D5%7D
The Hamm
government tried to silence backbench dissent over its anti-smoking
legislation yesterday, but the Tory MLA leading the charge for
a 100-per-cent tobacco ban said he isn't backing down.
Sackville-Beaver
Bank MLA Barry Barnet said little to reporters after a half-hour
meeting with Health Minister Jamie Muir, but he promised he's
"absolutely not backing off" on a plan to amend the
Smoke-Free Places bill.
It's unclear
what will happen to Barnet or other Conservative MLAs if they
break ranks and vote to change the government's smoking ban,
which allows bars and restaurants to build smoking rooms and
exempts casinos and private clubs. But Premier John Hamm insisted
the bill is tough enough in its current form.
"This
government is bringing forward very progressive legislation,
in fact the most progressive in the country," Hamm said
during question period.
Hamm told
reporters he has kept a promise that he would allow free votes
on matters of conscience by not disciplining some Tory MLAs
who voted against the government's legislation in the past.
But he said
the anti-smoking bill is not a matter of conscience. "No,
it's an issue of health," he said.
Hamm said
smoking is a "ticklish" issue and every member of
caucus had a different view. The bill now before the legislature
is a reasonable balance.
He said
it's "hypothetical" to ask how he will deal with Barnet
if he tables an amendment to make every public place smoke-free.
"That's
an issue we will discuss as a caucus," the premier said.
"This is a team and there are certain things we will discuss
as a team."
Colchester-Musquodoboit
Valley Tory MLA Brooke Taylor said the government has made it
clear it expects its MLAs to fall in line.
"I choose not to say what's gone on in caucus. All I can
say is that there's certainly an implication there that government
members are expected to support the legislation," he said.
Taylor said
he does support the anti-smoking bill, but believes there should
be a free vote. He said the government promised to allow free
votes and he expected those to be clearly identified ahead of
time.
That hasn't
happened once during three years of Tory government.
"I
can't recall one right now, to tell you the truth," Taylor
said.
Liberal
health critic Jim Smith said Conservatives have only been free
to vote against same-sex legislation.
"It
sounds like there's a degree of homophobia still rampant in
the government," he said.
bflinn@hfxnews.southam.ca
Evolution
of a promise
- June 25,
1999 Tory Blue Book campaign platform: "Give members of
the legislature greater freedom to represent the views of the
people they represent."
- July 30,
1999 Premier John Hamm tells reporters he will allow MLAs in
new Conservative government to vote their conscience on "appropriate"
issues.
- November
14, 2000 Tory MLAs Cecil O'Donnell and Jon Carey vote against
law granting common-law status to same-sex couples. The legislation
was necessary to comply with a Supreme Court of Canada ruling.
Hamm says they voted with their conscience and does not discipline
them.
- June 1,
2001 O'Donnell and Carey vote against bill that grants tax and
pension benefits to homosexual couples. Other Tory MLAs leave
chamber for vote. None are disciplined.
- June 27,
2001 O'Donnell votes against Bill 68, which undermines nurses'
right to strike. Hamm strips him of $1,500 per year job as chairman
of community services committee.
- May 14,
2002 Premier John Hamm: "I think if you look back, the
records of the House, there have been instances when government
members did not vote with the rest of the caucus."
