Reboot Alberta

Friday, June 08, 2007

Alberta Bill 45 "The Tobacco Reduction Act" to be Introduced June 12

The Order Paper for the Alberta Legislature has a notice in it today about Bill 45 “The Tobacco Reduction Act.” Looks like it will be introduced by Alberta's Minister of Health and WELLNESS, the Honourable Dave Hancock on Tuesday June 12th in the early afternoon. Hooray!!!

The political process is done and the legislative process is about to begin. Now we need the Premier to get behind this Bill and use some of his personal influence to make sure this get passed into law this session. Time is tight but it can be done with political will and all-party co-operation. Both elements are in place but it needs a push from the top becuase time is tight.

The new law is a no-brainer given the overwhelming public support it has received.

Proclamation can wait until Regulations are done. We have to be sure there is enough time over the summer for those businesses who need to adapt to have time to make the necessary arrangements in order to comply with the new law.

To leave this law to languish unfinished over the summer will only cause MLAs and municipal politicians (who are facing an October election) to be pressed and prodded by the hard-core tobacco supporters who think addictions are a good thing, or by the libertarians who think personal choice trumps community health and well being. Passing this Bill this session takes all that diversion off the political agenda...and it is the right thing to do!

Make it happen Premier Stelmach. Make it happen now!

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:00 pm

    Special Ed is too busy trying to break out of freefall. 2 by-elections are imminent. He will be making more spending announcements to buy votes. Once all the spending is done he might come back to this legislation. Unless he finds other low-hanging fruit to pick first.

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  2. Anonymous6:28 pm

    You were a big bunch more fun when you were not so focussed on one issue... It was interesting to tune in to see your take on what was happening.... is nothing else happening, as previous anaon suggests? .... now I can see why I am such a party bore, being a ONE ISSUE GIRL

    -green girl

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  3. Anonymous7:09 pm

    Hey Green girl - damn another woman who is right...and my suspicion is this is as it is - you are always right...no new normal here.!

    Tomorrow Bill 45 get introduced and I can move on to more light hearted things like the demise of the boreal forest due to the infestation of the mountain pine beetle.

    Thx for the slap up the side of the head.

    I will do my late night analysis of Calgary Elbow and Drum-Stettler results tomorrow night when all is said...but the Stelmach PCs are not Done!!

    I appreciate the reality check Green Girl!

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  4. Anonymous7:07 pm

    The bill states that no one shall smoke in a public place, a workplace or a work vehicle. What will all the people who smoke at work do now during their breaks, hide in their cars and light up? Their vehicle would not qualify as a work vehicle nor a public place as it is privately owned.

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