Smokers shouldn’t be able to light up at the bus stop, says the Canadian Cancer Society — and they say most of us agree.
A poll done by Corporate Research Associates for the society suggests 82 per cent of people in the Halifax area, and 76 per cent of Nova Scotians, would support a bylaw banning smoking near bus stops.
Maureen Summers, head of the society’s Nova Scotia division, says smoking kills more than 1,700 Nova Scotians per year, and drives 21 per cent of the province’s deaths.
In a news release, Summers said banning smoking in high-traffic outdoor areas would help discourage kids and teens from taking up the habit.
Bernie Smith, head of the Spring Garden Road Merchants’ Association, has said Spring Garden Road doesn’t need a smoking ban. Mayor Peter Kelly didn’t return a call from Metro News yesterday by press time.
Earlier this month, Truro banned smoking along its main shopping street, Inglis Place. Last year, Bridgewater banned smoking in parks, playgrounds, at concerts and on other town
property.
CRA polled 400 adults between Nov. 19 and 30. Results are considered accurate to within 4.9 percentage points, 95 times out of 100.
