Smoke-Free Spaces and the Law

Workplaces - Lieux de travail clos

Community Recreational Facilities - Les installations de loisirs communautaires

Child Care Centres - Centres de garde d'enfants et services de garde en milieu familial

Government Buildings - Édifices et propriétés du gouvernement

Hotels, Motels, and Inns - Hôtels, motels et auberges

Multi-Unit Dwellings - Habitations à logements multiples

Playgrounds - les terrains de jeu pour enfants

Enclosed Public Places - les lieux publics fermés

Residential Care Facilities - les établissements de soins en résidence

Restaurants and Bars - les bars et les restaurants (y compris les terrasses)

Schools - les écoles

Sporting Areas - les aires d’activités sportives

Flavoured Tobacco Factsheet - Produits du tabac aromatisés

Specialty Vape Store Factsheet - les boutiques spécialisées de vapotage

Specialty Vape Store Guidelines - Lignes directrices pour l’enregistrement en tant que boutique spécialisée de vapotage

Specialty Vape Store Application - Enregistrement de boutique spécialisée de vapotage

Tobacconist - les marchands de tabac

Tobacco Retailer Permit Application - Demande de permis de détaillant de tabac

Tobacco and Vapour Products Retailers Factsheet - les détaillants de produits du tabac et de vapotage

Enforcement of the SFOA, 2017 on and near school property is governed by provincial standards and protocols, Health Unit policy and procedures, and in partnership with each school board and individual school administrators.

Schools use a progressive discipline approach when dealing with issues related to inappropriate student behaviour, including vaping or smoking on school property. Progressive discipline helps foster positive school climate by combining early and ongoing interventions to promote positive student behaviour.

Progressive discipline approaches may include interventions such as: assignments, services, student meeting(s) with school administrators, potential parental involvement, referral to counselling for cessation, addictions treatment and/or mental health, detention, suspension, or other.

Once a school has exhausted all internal progressive discipline and consultations in relation to ongoing SFOA, 2017 offences, the school administrator can involve the Health Unit via the Smoke-Free Ontario Act Notification Form (more info below) and work alongside the Health Unit on next steps.

In partnership with school boards and individual school administrators, Tobacco Enforcement Officers enforce the SFOA, 2017 throughout the Health Unit region including on and near school property.

The Health Unit's Tobacco Enforcement Officers attend schools routinely in the districts of Nipissing and Parry Sound to ensure compliance with the SFOA, 2017 including compliance with smoking and vaping on or near school property (including smoking or vaping of cannabis), that smoke-free and vape-free signs are posted as required, and to assist school administrators and teachers in ensuring students do not have access to tobacco or vapour products from others.

When a school involves the Health Unit, the assigned Tobacco Enforcement Officer will follow-up with the school administrator to discuss education and enforcement options including:

• issuing a formal warning in the event the Health Unit has not been involved with the student before and other factors including the age of the student and the determination of the school administrator that a warning is required; or
• issuing a ticket (provincial offence notice) to the student due to the prior involvement of the Health Unit and other factors including involvement of other law enforcement agencies or willful and ongoing disobedience by the student.

A ticket, or provincial offence notice, is issued at the discretion of the Tobacco Enforcement Officer. The Tobacco Enforcement Officer will guide school staff through the process of completing a School Witness Report if a ticket is being issued. A high level of detail is required in the report to be able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the offence took place if the case goes to court. For staff and school administrators completing the School Witness Report, you acknowledge that you will be called as a witness in the event of a trial.