Lamoureux wants cigarettes out of cars with kids

If Kevin Lamoureux has his way, Manitoba will follow the lead of other provinces by banning smoking in vehicles carrying children.

The Liberal MLA for Inkster plans to introduce a private member’s bill soon after the Legislature returns to session on April 9.

The legislation would protect children 12 and younger from second-hand smoke in vehicles by adding a clause to the Non-Smokers Health Protection Act.

Lamoureux said the bill would call for a fine – comparable to being ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt – for drivers who smoke with young children in their cars or trucks.

“In the mid-’80s there was opposition to mandatory seatbelts, and I think it’s the same thing now (with banning smoking),” said Lamoureux. “(The seatbelt law) has proven effective and is widely accepted as a good piece of legislation.

“Given a chance, I believe this would receive wide public support.”

in January, Nova Scotia became the first province to pass a similar law. The British Columbia and Ontario governments have pledged to do the same.

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” Lamoureux said. “Let’s recognize a good idea for what it is.”

The Nova Scotia legislation covers all children 18 and younger, while the proposed bill in Ontario sets the age at 16. Lamoureux believes 12 is an appropriate age for Manitoba because teenagers won’t hesitate to tell smokers to put out their cigarettes.

“Young adults today are very opinionated and aren’t afraid to express that to a driver,” he said.

Lamoureux said he’s discouraged that the message about the effects of second-hand smoke still hasn’t altered the behaviour of many Manitobans.

“The problem is definitely still there,” he said. “Quite often it takes something of this nature to encourage people to do the right thing.”

Daylene Litke, a parent in Lamoureux’s constituency, worries about the health problems people are causing for their children by smoking around them.

“You hear about kids getting more and more asthma, and spending time at the hospital,” said Litke, a non-smoker.

“I see other families (smoking with their children in the car) and it’s disgusting.”

Lamoureux is hopeful to find support from the NDP and Progressive Conservatives, noting that the original anti-smoking bill had all-party support.

“I’d like to think that other politicians would recognize the value of this bill,” he said. “Most Manitobans would feel very good about this.”

Calls to the NDP cabinet for comment were not returned.