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Letters CBC program, "All in a Day".
Re: Brent Brambury's interview this afternoon with Mike Kennedy on "All in
a Day":
Ottawa's smoke-free by-laws clearly state that smoking is prohibited in all
public places and workplaces. It is unfortunate that some bar owners fell
for Mike Kennedy's illegal scheme to supposedly convert their establishments into private clubs, first, because Mike Kennedy said that they could, and
secondly, because he would charge a membership fee. He convinced some bar
owners that workers contracted through Smokers Choice were not technically
"workers" under the smoke-free by-laws. The Ontario Court of Justice ruled
that he was wrong.
Mike Kennedy also told Brent Brambury that the Newfoundland Pub was not
going smoke-free. However, the Ottawa Citizen said today that Bing Chen
would "follow the decision of the court". And last night, the NewRO
broadcast a sign on the pub's front door, stating that smoking was no
longer permitted.
Members of Smokers Choice who have been found guilty of breaking the
smoke-free by-laws are stuck with heavy fines and negative publicity. They
have also lost non-smoking customers to their law-abiding competitors. How
much money did Mike Kennedy pocket through his membership fees while
conning some business people into breaking the law?
Carmela Graziani
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