Ontario’s doctors applaud Sault MPP for taking action to protect children’s health

OMA calls on all MPPs to support bill banning smoking in cars with kids

Toronto, Dec 6, 2007 – Ontario’s doctors welcome the first steps towards protecting the health and well-being of children in Ontario. Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti’s private member’s bill to ban smoking in cars carrying children would make Ontario the first province in Canada to implement such a law. The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) has been calling for a ban to protect children from second-hand smoke (SHS) for several years.
 
“Doctors are extremely happy to see leaders like David Orazietti making the health of children a priority,” said Dr. Willett, President of the OMA. “By protecting the health of children now, we are setting them up with the opportunity for higher quality of life as they grow in to adults.”

According to the OMA’s 2004 report, “Exposure to second-hand smoke: are we protecting our kids?” SHS in a vehicle is 23 times more toxic than in a house due to the restricted area in which the air is circulated. SHS can impact a child’s respiratory health and birth weight, has been associated with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and is a risk factor in the development of cancer and heart disease later in life. SHS exposure can also influence a child’s ability to reason and understand and can negatively impact their behaviour and attention span.

In November 2007, Wolfville, Nova Scotia became the first municipality in Canada, joining many cities in the U.S. and elsewhere, to ban smoking in cars while children are present. The City of London has become the most recent Ontario municipality to explore such a ban. Ontario’s doctors commend the provincial government for its work in implementing some of the toughest Smoke-Free legislation in North America and strongly encourage MPPs to take a leadership role by making Ontario the first province in Canada to ban smoking in cars with children.

“It is clear by the action taken in other communities that this is possible,” said Dr. Willet. “Now, Ontario has the opportunity to continue the leadership it has shown in the past and become national leaders in protecting children’s health.”

Mr. Orazietti’s bill focuses on primary enforcement and would give police officers the authority to pull over a vehicle solely because an adult is exposing a child to second-hand smoke. In comparison with bans in jurisdictions such as the state of California where a vehicle must be pulled over for another offence before an officer can enforce the smoking ban, this legislation would go further to protect the health of children.

For more information please call OMA Media Relations at (416) 340-2862 or toll free at 1-800-268-7215 ext. 2862.