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.
"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."
Well, of course not, you socialist bastard. It makes much more sense to discriminate against the smokers who contribute over $7 billion to the Canadian economy and the business owners who are (right now) free to keep kids safe while safeguarding their businesses. Yup. Sounds reasonable to me.
Why do socialists and liberals in general always flash the "CHILDREN" card when they want to bellyache about something?
But you can't discriminate against them simply because you want to make money.
Mr. Matas is correct here. Seeing how kids really don't have that much in the way of discretionary funds, we should absolutely not discriminate against them, and allow them to enter strip clubs, porno shops, nightclubs, and doughnut shops where people smoke. Seems some people can't make fascist beaurocrats happy.
It is a necessary follow on. Everyone knows that people who stop smoking loose weight. Preventing these kids from getting their daily dose of second hand smoking will cause them to fatten up.
Its no big deal really. The way the govt is going soon they'll have to keep children out of doughnut shops because of the doughnuts.
Hey...you're describing lunch.
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 author of this piece knew the full name of the woman and the ages of her two children.
1. How did the reporter get this info?
2. Wouldn't the shop have a sign at the door saying "NOBODY UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ALLOWED!!!", or something like that?
3. Does the Socialist Republic of Canada employ undercover "brownshirts" to enforce these Nazi-style laws they pass?
Bwahahahaha!
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