Ottawa city committee moves to ban hookah smoking

Ottawa's community and protective services committee agreed with the city's medical officer of health Thursday that the smoking of hookah pipes in public places should be banned, voting for a new bylaw that would see people fined startingnext April.

• Ottawa Board of Health votes to tell city to ban hookah smoking in publicplaces
• Thisyear could be the last forshishasmoking at Ottawa Lebanese Festival
• Toronto's hookah ban begins

Dr. Isra Levysaid the bylawwill both close a regulatory gap, bringing hookah smoking in line with tobacco smoking, banned from Ottawa restaurants and patios for 15 years, and prevent exposure to second-hand smoke Levy called "toxic."

Business ownerswho run hookah cafspleaded with the committeefor regulation rather than an outright ban, or, at the very least, for more time to come up with newbusiness models.

Ottawa Public Health is aware of 15 establishments in Ottawa where customers smoke water pipes.

Councillorson the committee did askaboutthe available research comparing the health risks of second-hand smoke from herbal shishaand tobacco.

The committee opted for officers tohand out tickets under the proposed newbylaw as ofApril 3, 2017,instead of Jan. 1, as Ottawa's board of health had recommended. Coun. George Darouze was the only committee member to dissent.

The bylaw still needs the approval of full city council.