Winnipeg bylaw prohibits use of tobacco in public locations frequented by minors
By KRISTA FOSS
Saturday, January 5, 2002 – Print Edition, Page A4
Posted on 01/05/2002 4:44:00 PM PST by Timesink
Doughnut shop bans children to allow customers to smoke
Winnipeg bylaw prohibits use of tobacco in public locations frequented by minors
By KRISTA FOSS
Saturday, January 5, 2002 – Print Edition, Page A4
WINNIPEG -- When she was refused service at a Winnipeg doughnut shop yesterday, Karen Jonasson's eyes widened then rolled upward.
"I don't believe this," the flustered woman said aloud before turning on her heel and making a quick exit.
Beside her were the two reasons Ms. Jonasson couldn't get coffee and a cruller to go -- her children, 7 and 8.
The busy mother had inadvertently waltzed into one of six Coffee Time locations in the city that have put puffing customers ahead of pint-sized ones in an effort to get around a new bylaw meant to ban smoking in places minors frequent.
The half-dozen doughnut shops and a handful of other restaurants and delicatessens in the city have chosen to ban children under the age of 18.
As a result, the location where Ms. Jonasson stopped yesterday had laid off three employees who are minors, according to the manager, Susan, who withheld her last name. One former employee will return in March when she turns 18.
Besides raising eyebrows, the clash over the antismoking bylaw that became effective Jan. 1 has raised concerns about infringement of human rights.
"The irony is that the bylaw was meant to protect children, not harm them. The way it is being applied has the exact opposite result," said David Matas, a Winnipeg immigration lawyer who works on human-rights issues. "Children are a vulnerable minority. But you can't discriminate against them simply because you want to make money."
Yet this is the crux of Winnipeg's great doughnut divide -- whether catering to smokers is better for business.
According to Susan, it is -- although under provincial guidelines half of her store has to be set aside for non-smoking adults.
"We tried to obey the bylaw for one day and we lost half our business," she said. "But now that we've allowed smoking and banned minors, our business has doubled today. We're getting calls from across the city."
Vern Ducharme, who helps manage four Winnipeg Tim Hortons stores -- all of which have been smoke-free for three years -- chuckled.
"It's absurd . . . kids live for doughnuts," said Mr. Ducharme, a smoker who doesn't indulge during work hours. "Our business hasn't been hurt by going smoke-free at all."
City councillor Mark Lubosch, who chairs the committee that pushed for a ban on smoking indoors, called the businesses choosing to ban children "laggards."
"Those businesses that are putting smokers ahead of youth are shortsighted and grossly irresponsible," he said. "They are putting profits ahead of employees and customers. This issue has always been about health."
For Ms. Jonasson, the idea that a place dedicated to jelly-filled confections would allow parents with children to use only the drive-through window is insulting.
"I will never come back here," she said outside the store. "There are plenty of places in this town where I can buy coffee with my kids -- and they're smoke-free, too."
But inside the Coffee Time, smokers puffed away, unrestrained and happy. "Viva la Coffee Time," one puffer shouted.
Yep. And so does the People's Republik of Kalifornia.
Wrongo! Here in Kookiefornia, land of fruits and nuts and Stanton Glantz, Willie Brown, mayor of San Francisco, is PLEADING for tourists. Hotel rooms are going begging (long before 9/11, the hospitality industry in SF had fallen to 1994 rates); there are 1036 FEWER dine-in restaurants than there should be to keep up with the state's growth; and they can't GIVE away liquor licenses for the first time in California history. But you go ahead and believe the baseless rhetoric from those fine, upstanding anti-smoker control freaks. Your mind is made up so I don't want to confuse you with the facts.
I'm sure the smoke and ashes in the pastries adds a certain unique flavor to their donuts. And they're higher in fiber too...
'"The irony is that the bylaw was meant to protect children, not harm them. The way it is being applied has the exact opposite result," said David Matas, a Winnipeg immigration lawyer who works on human-rights issues.'It's only "ironic" if you've been asleep for the past fifty years or so.
LOL!
Yes, it is worth living better, healthier and hopefully longer. It would really suck missing gene/DNA/telmore/stem-cell/nanotechnology achievement of youth rejuvenating biologic immortality by one day. If I miss it by a day I'll never know what I missed out on.... living forever.
Based on historical advances in extending longevity, in five to ten years, for ever year lived longevity will increase by one year. After that every year lived should see increases in longevity being extended by more than a year-for-year return. Basically always running further away from a natural death date.
Hamburgers and decaf coffee I need, the rest I mostly live without just fine. I noticed the biggest benefit when I quit caffeine and cut back fro a weekend beer drinker to twice or thrice a year.
That is hilarious! I love hearing stories like that.
Actually, Canada isn't a republic, it's a dominion...
Better to ask if the city of Winnipeg has undercover agents. I don't know of any federal agency that goes around enforcing municipal by-laws.
Decaf? I just don't get it...it's like drinking soda water. I prefer caffeine in most of my drinks. But more power to you if you can do without these extras.
We have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It is much like your Constitution; it's based on Common Law and largely ignored or misused by our government.
Although there is currently no provision explicitly acknowledging the 'Right to Donut, Coffee and Smoke', we are actively fighting for it. The cops are on our side. Winnipeg is one of the coldest cities in Canada. A Donut shop, is more than a mere pastry outlet. It is a warm gathering place for public dissent and government vilification.
It's a Zen experience.
I wonder if the donuts in the smoking shop would taste different?
Heard in Canadian Donut Shop:
"Djya got any Day olds, eh?"
"Nope"
"S'ok, eh? ..I'll wait".
Peace, eh?
The Constitution limits and applies only to government, which is why all civil rights laws are bogus.
By God, she catches on quick, doesn't she?
I'd go out to eat more if there were more kid-free restaurants.
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