The fact is smoking is legal and as long as it is, an ongoing battle with smokers and non-smokers will take place. Yes, smoking kills and I agree with David Ginsburg's views on smoking. Like he said in his article Smoking is good for business "if a company builds planes with just one problem that one day crashed with 350 people on board there would be a response." What is so different about the tobacco industry?.
Toronto Council has postponed a plan that would outlaw designated smoking rooms (DSR's) in the city's restaurants and bars. Why? If this law becomes a reality where would people go to have a smoke? Toronto council thinks by closing down DSR's and banning smoking in restaurants & bars people would be more prone to quit smoking. I really don't think so.
According to North Scar Research 3 of 4 Torontonians support smoking in restaurants and bars. The provincial Elections were held recently and the majority party was voted in. The liberal party didn't overthrow the Tories by themselves it was the people who voted them in power. What is the difference here? Give the people what they want or ban smoking all together which will surely hurt the tobacco industry leading to a huge economic downfall.
By getting rid of DSR's the economy will take another hit. The SARS crisis estimated a $429 million loss in the hospital industry. Think of how hard the economy would be hit if 75% of Torontonians can't walk into a designated smoking room and have a smoke.