Smoking Double-Standard in Alberta

Stardate 4979.0

CTV - It would seem that the province-wide effort to ban smoking in public places and government buildings is all a huge joke. As of January 1st, the Alberta Legislature building will keep the smoking areas in the building as well as the cafeteria... and in fact, Cabinet Ministers will be able to smoke in their offices! Of course, King Ralph, a smoker himself, says he will not smoke in his office.

This is absolutely ridiculous. Another move that shows the Alberta Conservative government is full of crap. They now have a two-tiered smoking policy in the province. Les Hagen, the executive director of Action on Smoking and Health says, "I think the decision undermines the Alberta government's own efforts to reduce tobacco use and to protect Albertans from second hand smoke". I agree completely with him.

I was a pretty hard-core smoker for almst 20 years, and my wife and I both quit cold-turkey nearly 5 years ago. I am now a staunch advocate for anti-smoking legislation.

In my opinion, this is a joke. It has to be.