EDMONTON—The city wants public feedback on its new smoking policy through an online survey, but residents have less than a week to respond.

The survey is a direct result of the change of heart Mayor Don Iveson had after council voted July 10 in favour of banning tobacco and cannabis smoking within 10 metres of doors, patios and windows, at city-owned golf courses, ski hills, dog parks and at bus stations. The next day, the mayor said the policy “didn’t quite sit right with me,” and introduced a motion to ask city administration for input from the public and from private businesses.

“When you have a street with a fine grain of businesses along it, there are doors every 10 metres. It means there are literally certain sections of the street where there would be no place for people to smoke,” Iveson said at the time.

He said he heard a lot of pushback about the rules, so the city quickly designed two surveys — one for the public and one for businesses along high-pedestrian traffic routes, such as Whyte Ave., Jasper Ave., and 124 St. Both surveys close Aug. 1.

City project manager Bruce Hertz called it a “tight turnaround” for his team to have a new report done for city council on Sept. 12, when councillors will have another debate.

“We’re excited to see what the results will be both from the public and the business perspectives,” he said.

The survey included a photo of the Whyte Ave. area and illustrated how smoking bans would affect the popular destination for people out on the town.

The results will help inform rules dictating where people can smoke tobacco and cannabis that will roll out Oct. 17, when cannabis is legalized.

Ian O’Donnell, executive director of the Downtown Business Association, said city council “got a little ahead of themselves” when they voted on the restrictions July 10.

“(They) perhaps didn’t recognize some unintended consequences, so, I believe it was smart of them to rescind those,” he said.

Many of the businesses in his area are divided on the proposed rules and will be filling out the surveys and expressing their concerns.

“There is certainly some caution that this is going into some unknown territory and we’re not sure where it will end, but we’re following it intently,” he said.

Old Strathcona Business Association executive director Cherie Klassen is happy the city is finally consulting businesses before finalizing the smoking rules.

While the city had been discussing the opening of dispensaries with them since legalization was announced, it hadn’t consulted them about where people could smoke near businesses before the July 10 vote.

“We were a little surprised and wanted an opportunity to engage all our businesses and get their perspective before something was decided.”

She expects members in her district will be divided on whether people should be allowed to smoke within 10 metres of a business.

However, she doesn’t know how the rules could be enforced, since many business are only 15 metres apart.

“They’re really going to need to understand what the implications will be if they go forward with the 10-metre separation for high commercial density districts like ours, and how we would actually enforce it,” she said.

“It’s a tough debate that I think just needs more thoughtful consideration.”

According to the city’s web page, the proposed rule changes people are being asked about include:

- Increasing the distance where people can smoke or vape tobacco from any doorway or window from five metres to 10 metres, and adding a 10-metre rule from any patio or bus stop.

- Banning all smoking or vaping tobacco at City of Edmonton attractions, city-owned golf courses and ski hills.

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- Banning smoking or vaping tobacco at any park that has a playground, pool, skating rink, sports field, or other children’s amenities.

- Creating designated smoking or vaping tobacco areas in larger parks that are screened off and separated from other park users.

With files from Kevin Maimann

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