A Lake Country councillor says it's time for change and has put forth a notice of motion in an attempt to ban smoking in public parks in Lake Country.
Coun. Blair Ireland brought forward a notice of motion to introduce a bylaw in Lake Country that would ban smoking in public parks. He made the notice of motion at the conclusion of Tuesday night's council meeting, meaning the issue will come up when council next meets again.
"With all the interface fires happening all over the area, a lot of them have been caused by smoking," said Ireland. "We have a lot of parks that are rustic in nature—in Okanagan Centre, Spion Kop—lots of places that are extremely dry. The ability for people to smoke in those areas gives us a chance to have a fire. It's time we said there is no smoking in those areas."
Ireland said there are as many as 50 jurisdictions in the province that have already moved to ban smoking in public parks and said it's time Lake Country took the step as well.
The motion is expected to be discussed when Lake Country council next meets Sept. 15.