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"Ever wonder if City Council is as contentious and chaotic as it is sometimes portrayed? Here you can get a progressive perspective on some of the issues from someone who spent four years in the trenches. Totally unbiased, though! Feel free to comment but keep it respectful, just like they do at council."

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Dale's diatribe


I quit smoking 19 years ago, after a couple of decades planning to do so any day now.

That smoking is an addiction there is no doubt and an expensive one at that, in terms of both health and the pocketbook.

 When I began teaching at Fanshawe College in 1972, students and teachers were still smoking in the classrooms, although those days were numbered. Gradually it became more difficult to find a place to indulge our habit. First came no smoking in the classrooms, then in faculty offices. Next came cafeterias, and pretty soon there was no smoking anywhere indoors. There were those who huddled around doorways in bad weather and sat at picnic tables in good. But really, it was all becoming far too much trouble. One by one the old gang was giving up cigarettes. To be a smoker was to be a pariah. Some of us took to smoking in private, secretly.

But eventually, most of us quit. Perhaps we would have done so anyway, but I firmly believe that the restrictions being placed on where smoking was permitted hastened that decision.

Still, one in five Ontarians smoke, most becoming addicted as I did, during their teen or even pre-teen years. So anything that we can do to reduce the opportunity to get addicted as well as to reduce the influence of smoking role models, the better. And, of course, the issue of second hand smoke is an important one, for health and enjoyment of public spaces.

The province’s ban on smoking in private vehicles carrying underaged passengers was a good step in that direction. Last night the Community Services Committee asked the public to weigh in on some local restrictions, smoking in public parks and at entrances to municipal buildings. Council had asked staff to bring back some options for these and they did.

The recommendations weren’t new. The options ranged from doing nothing to a complete ban on smoking in public parks and requiring a nine meter smoke free area around entrances to municipal buildings.

The arguments weren’t new, either. Most of those who presented, either in person or in writing, supported a full ban on smoking in parks and the nine meter distance from entrances. Those taking the position included nursing students, the Health Unit, the Cancer Society, a group called Scent Free London, the London Public Library and an assortment of parents. They cited statistics and research as well as concerns about children (and adults) being able to enjoy public outdoor spaces without being assaulted by tobacco smoke.

There were also a couple of voices on the other side making the usual arguments about freedom of choice, feelings of persecution, how cars and trucks are worse than smokers, and what are they to do if they can’t smoke at festivals? One woman became especially incensed about this attack on democracy and why was council wasting time on this. Prohibition had given rise to the Mafia, and who knows what would happen if smoking were banned? “Smokers are taxpayers, too,” she pointed out, noting that she herself had quit. She hoped that voters could get “a council with brains”.
We were about to find out if she got her wish. It was time for the members of the committee to debate and decide on a recommendation.

First up was Bill Armstrong. He quickly disabused any members of the public that he would support a total ban on smoking in public parks. That was just going too far. Maybe sometime in the future.

Armstrong’s position is interesting. It was he who led the successful charge introducing and then strengthening a by-law on idling vehicles, arguing that they polluted the environment. Apparently, that’s not something he is concerned about when it comes to smoking in parks. He made a motion to accept a nine meter distance from playground equipment in addition to the smoke free zone at building entrances. He was quickly seconded by Dale Henderson whose turn it was next.

Unfortunately, I had not brought a tape recorder with me to the meeting. Henderson’s train of thought is always difficult to follow as full sentences and paragraphs hold little sway for him.

Last week he had made an unprecedented attack on staff, referring to them as “vindictive” in recommending a refusal on a planning application. This time the object of his scorn was the PhD candidate from the Canadian Cancer Society.

He got elected, Henderson wanted the public to know, because the electorate wanted to put people in power who know what is going on. (Full disclosure: I ran against Henderson who won by 212 votes.)
He wanted real research, not the inferior stuff put out by the Cancer Society. Something that you don’t just read in the paper 800 times and believe it’s true. About cancer killing people, lots of things killed people: buses, trucks, pollution. This was no reason to shut down people’s rights. For him, this was an issue of freedom. As for health care, this would change the rules of this country. Did they realize that there were 8 or 10 protocols and the health system was only looking at four? He started to enumerate them—chemotherapy, radiation—but he was interrupted by other committee members to stick to the issue and address the committee, not the presenters.

“Don’t lecture the audience,” the chair, Matt Brown, chided him.

The admonition had little effect. There were other things to be worried about. “Look at food, sugar, stress, people smoke to calm themselves,” Henderson continued. In the US, suicide is number 1, more than automobiles,” he continued. He wanted people to keep living in London. “And London is the second happiest city”. Somewhere in there he ranted about a woman and some sheep in Montana killed because they were the wrong colour. 

It was all very disjointed. Spectators in the gallery were shocked and then nervously amused. They didn’t know what to make of it. Nor did I. It’s hard to make notes on incoherence.

Harold Usher was the only member to take issue with the motion. He is twice a cancer survivor. The relationship between smoking and cancer is no longer a theory, it’s a fact, he asserted. In the parks and at games he sees people smoking along the aisles. It’s a poor example for children. “We must do everything we can do to discourage them [from starting to smoke],” he cautioned.

An excellent interview by Pat Maloney of the London Free Press can be found here.

But the final vote was three to one in favour of a more cautious approach, limiting smoking in a nine meter distance from the play structures. It will be a by-law that will be hard to enforce and on which to educate people, according to the Health Unit which will be charged with that responsibility.

That won’t happen until the entire council has had an opportunity to debate and decide the matter next Tuesday. In the meantime, there is still an opportunity to contact your councillor and let him/her know what kind of place you want your park to be.

11 comments:

Puzzled said...

The only possible comment on Dale's rant is:

BULLSHIT BAFFLES BRAINS!

just askin' said...

I note in the Free Press that 16% agree with Dale that smoking doesn't cause cancer. Are they the same 16% who think that Elvis is still alive?

Anonymous said...

I hope the good people of Byron who voted for Henderson enjoy the representation that they are receiving. This ward is now the laughing stock of London. When you vote for the person with the most signs you might be surprised at what you get.

Henderson spent more on his election campaign than any other candidate. I wonder where all the money came from? Do you think that those donors are getting their money's worth from him?

Anonymous said...

I first heard Mr. Henderson's comments on news radio, then read a London Free Press article on his input, and subsequently a transcript of his post-meeting interview with Pat Maloney. The more I read, the more I was shocked and disturbed at his incomprehensible ramblings. I have lived in many towns and cities across Canada and have never heard a politician speak so incoherently. Regardless of what the issue is, or what his position is on the issue, at the very least Dale Henderson has the responsibility of coming to meetings prepared - thorough research done on both sides of the issue, and a clearly worded position statement written down. I live in Ward 9 and am angry that he is my representative at City Hall.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to correct Mr. Henderson.
The leading cause of death for pregnant women in the USA is homicide, not suicide.
Suicide is the leading cause of death among healthy educated working class males in N.A.
Cigarettes can be a weapon of defense that lowers the risk of personal harm. There's nothing else that carries more dna evidence then a butt and burn...in fact it was recommended back in the '60's when the prohibition on women entering liquour establishment alone was lifted, that pretty young ladies carry a lite cigarette and some drunk tried to rape them, to butt out the cigarette on them. When cigarettes fell out of popularity, high-pressurized miniature aerosol cans of artificially scented pepper-like spray disguised as perfume were promoted to both genders. They are far more lingering and repulsive then 2nd hand cigarette smoke.

Thank You Dale Henderson for bringing some issues about smoking into the public eye that have been suppressed by the anti-smoking Nazi's.

Jan said...

I don't know about anti-smoking nazis, but I do know I have asthma (two EXPENSIVE medications daily to control it) and second hand cigarette smoke is a guaranteed asthma trigger. I can assure you that when you show up at Emergency and announce that you're an asthmatic who can't breathe you immediately go to the head of the triage line.

Anonymous said...

London doesn't discriminate. We have idiots on council, a crooked mayor and a lot of mediocre councillors. Who needs do to homework when you know everything??

Unknown said...

Does the ordinance also cover those who prefer the e cigs? Will the nine meter distance apply?

Anonymous said...

Hi Gina,
I can live with the decision made. However, I have a broader concern regarding addictions and unhealthy behavior that occurred in public places (i.e., those who shoot up, and dispose of used needles in clear view and where a child could be harmed).
With a cash strapped society is it prudent to chase after those who smoke a legal substance versus legal?

Don McLeod said...

Public Domain

Public space should be enjoyable for everyone. All of our 5 senses should be free of the incursion that smoking causes. Smoking is a personal choice and should be done in personal space away from all public domain.

Nine metres? Why not 10?

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