Relayed
by GLOBALink -
The International Tobacco-Control Network
The Canadian
Press Source: Canadian Press, 2002-05-24, via tobacco.org
Region:CANADA Category: Smokefree Policies
URL: http://www.canada.com/search/site/story.asp?id=30768DD5-927D-4959-
8A0A-090A6092BA42
SYDNEY, N.S. (CP) _ The chief of a Mi'kmaq First
Nation says Nova Scotia's new anti-smoking legislation won't
be the law on his reserve, which is developing its own policies.
"We are excluded from provincial legislation," said
Terry Paul, chief of the Membertou reserve, in an interview
Thursday. "We are governed by the Indian Act, which is
federal legislation."
Membertou, located on the outskirts of Sydney,
already operates one video lottery gaming facility and is constructing
two additional facilities. Paul said smoking may eventually
be banned in one facility and permitted in the others. "We
are very seriously looking at this," he said.
Smoking is banned at public buildings at Membertou
like the administration building, schools, gym, senior citizens
residence and health centre, he said. The Nova Scotia government
has said it doesn't know whether its new anti-smoking law will
apply to native reserves. Justice Minister Michael Baker said
Wednesday the government has not yet looked into whether natives
are exempt from the law that comes into effect in January.
But some restaurant and bar owners are worried
native reserves will be exempt from the law and customers who
smoke will go to reserves to eat and drink. The province's new
smoking legislation will ban smoking in most public places as
of next January. Restaurants will only be allowed to offer smoking
in separately ventilated rooms, while bars will face the same
restriction until 9 p.m.
Copyright 2002 The Canadian Press
