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The Standing Policy Committee on protection, community services and parks voted 3-to-1 in favour of a smoking ban on city patios that would take effect this spring.

Winnipeg city councillors Russ Wyatt, John Orlikow and chair Mike Pagtakhan endorsed the plan, which will now head to city council for approval and could be in place by April 1.

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“Basically, Winnipeg will be in line with other municipalities and it’s about time that we do that,” Pagtakhan told the Winnipeg Sun last week.

If the bylaw is passed, Winnipeg would become the last major city in Canada to enact the ban.

Coun. Ross Eadie was the lone committee member to vote against.

Eadie said he didn’t support what he called a “ridiculous” motion, saying that the new bylaw “ostracizes” and “treats like crap” a segment of the population that goes to a barroom that does not serve food.

Meanwhile, the committee has given the green light to the city’s insect control branch to negotiate with the surrounding RMs to find a good deal for both parties.