OPH warns people about smoking at hospitals but fines remain rare

In an attempt to enforce a new smoke-free law on hospital properties, Ottawa Public Health has performedhundreds of inspections and given plenty of warnings to people caught lighting up but relatively fewfines.

As ofJan. 1, smoking has been banned on all hospital properties across Ontario under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

According to Ottawa Public Health, over the past three monthsthere have been 435 individual inspectionscarried out on hospital properties and300 warnings handed out to smokers.

Only30 fines have beenissued, however.They range from $305 at the low end to $5,000 for repeat offenders.

Fines at discretion of agent

Whether someone gets a fine or not is at the discretion of the OPH agent who's performingthe inspection or issuingthe warning, said DanaPeriard,aproject officer with the public health agency.

OPH has a small team of agents charged with carrying outinspections and enforcing the law on hospital properties, said Periard.

We feel that two years of education is sufficient.- Dana Periard, Ottawa Public Health

Two years before smoking was completely banned at hospitals, OPH began educating people about the forthcoming laws and the risks associated with the habit, Periard said.

"In2018 we arestarting to focus a little bit more on charges at this point, because we feel that two years of education is sufficient," he said.

Periardsaid that hospitals alsohave a responsibility to ensure that people aren't smoking on site. They have their own agents who patrol the property, he said.

Periardsaid he understands that smoking is an addiction and that "it takes time to change the social norms."

He added that he does think people are becoming more compliant with the new law.

OPH is alsoencouraging people to reach out to their health care providers to learn more about nicotine patches and other ways to quit smoking.

'We're starting to focus a little bit more on charges'

8 years ago

Duration 0:48

Dana Periard of Ottawa Public Health describes the shift from education to enforcement of a law to ban smoking on hospital property.

'Just get used to it'

Although theSmoke-Free Ontario Acthas been in effect since 2016, it wasn't until this year that hospitals became completely smoke-free.

Before Jan. 1, smokers could use a designated area ninemeters away from thebuilding. Now, however, smokers have to leave the property before lighting up.

Thelawhas received mixed reactions from smokers.

"I think it's great. I think it's a really good idea," said Pam Armstrong, who's been visiting her son at the Ottawa Hospital's Civic Campus for the pasttwo months.

Armstrong said she doesn't mind walking off the property to light up, noting it could actually deter people from smoking.

She said she's been to several hospitals across the province and the law seems to be enforced everywhere now.

"Just get used to it. That's the way it is," she said.

Armstrong added that she's never received a ticket for smoking but she has receiveda warning.

Not fair for the patients

Others, however, are concerned aboutabout patients who are sick or immobile and also smoke.

Everybody'sallowed to have a bad habit and unfortunately, a lot of people do smoke.- Hospital employee Leanne Lavery

"I just find it unfair for some of the patients that are smokers. You know that they have to come out to the street to be able to have a cigarette," said hospital employee Leanne Lavery.

Lavery said her biggest concern is for the patients whogo outside with an IV poleto smoke, especially when the weather is cold.

She said she's heard of people getting fined on hospital properties for smoking, but she's never received one herself.

"I know it's a bad habit," Lavery said. "Everybody'sallowed to have a bad habit and unfortunately a lot of people do smoke."