New Democrat MLA Leonard Krog has introduced a Private Member’s Bill which would make B.C. the first province in Canada to ban smoking in cars if there are children on board.

The Smoke Free Cars Act will protect the health and safety of children by prohibiting smoking in a motor vehicle when persons under the age of 16 are present.

“This House was unanimous in its support of car booster seat legislation to protect children in cars and I hope the Campbell Liberals will support keeping the air kids breath in those cars smoke free as well,” said Krog, MLA for Nanaimo. “It’s totally complimentary legislation.”

During the tabling of the bill today, Krog was joined in the legislative gallery by students and their parents from Nanaimo District Secondary School. The students have been lobbying for tougher smoking regulations on behalf of children. Earlier this year they participated in a ‘die in’ at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital in honour of World No Tobacco Day.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, one in five Canadian children continues to be exposed to second-hand smoke in vehicles. Every year 1,000 non-smokers die from second-hand smoke.

Krog noted that the community of Wolfeville, Nova Scotia is now the first place in Canada to extinguish smoking in cars on behalf of children. He wants B.C. to be the first province.

“It makes sense to do this on a provincial level,” said Krog. “Our Provincial Health Officer has put his support for Wolfeville on record, B.C.’s own health files quote the dangers of second hand smoke and we have a strengthened Tobacco Control Act coming in 2008.

Let’s respect the spirit of what we are trying to do in this province around second-hand smoke by including protection for the children who can’t protect themselves.” said Krog.
The proposed Act defines a motor vehicle to have the same meaning as in the Motor Vehicles Act. Smoke is defined as a lighted pipe, cigar or cigarette containing tobacco or any other plant.