The provincial government is looking to strengthen the enforcement of the Smoke Free Places Act by allowing peace officers and inspectors to issue tickets for smoking in public places.

Currently, inspectors can only write compliance orders to managers and employers, while peace officers can only issue tickets to people smoking in a vehicle while children are present.

The new rules would allow tickets to be handed out on patios, or similar outdoor public facilities where food and/or alcohol is served, as well as within three metres of the patio’s boundary.

Tickets could also be issued for smoking:

within nine metres of doorways, windows and air intakes of enclosed public places and indoor workplaces;

on or within 20 metres of children’s equipment and sports areas located in an outdoor public place;

on or within nine metres of a public walking or jogging trail in an outdoor public place;

within the boundaries of provincial parks except within the boundaries of rented campsites, golf courses and designated areas within the park; and

on the grounds of regional health authorities.

The draft regulations, announced Thursday by Health Minister Victor Boudreau, are posted for public review for 28 days on the Public Review of Draft Regulations website.