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The proposed crackdown on public smoking comes by way of the Capital Regional District, the region-wide government overseeing the 13 municipalities that comprise Greater Victoria.

Earlier this month, Mr. Isitt was among a handful of City of Victoria councillors who urged the authority to dial back the policy just enough to allow smokers to light up in mapped-out “designated smoking areas.”

“About 10% of our population is addicted to nicotine; wouldn’t it be reasonable for us to allocate a small portion of parkland somewhere to allow them to manage their addiction outdoors?” he said.

At an April 10 meeting at city hall, according to the Times-Colonist, Mr. Isitt referenced the city’s large population of senior citizens smokers, and urged the creation of “20 by 20 footprint” in which they can ”kill themselves in peace.”

Councillor Shellie Gudgeon, a self-described “reformed smoker,” also came out in support of demarcated smoking zones.

“It’s not easy to quit smoking. It’s a legal substance, and I’m just hoping we can find some sort of balance between understanding the needs of people who are smokers as well as not impacting those who are concerned about their health,” she said.

The councillor argued that the alternative would be to force Victoria’s smokers into the “middle of the street.”

While few municipalities have felt the need to consider city-wide designated smoking areas, they are common practice at otherwise smoke-free facilities such as universities, airports and hospitals.