Smoke Free Nova Scotia - Urgent

From: "Maureen Reynolds" <ax168@chebucto.ns.ca>
To: <sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca>
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 01:19:46 -0400
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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  Please Help Make N.S. Smoke Free - contact your MLA

  Smoke free workplaces and public places throughout Nova Scotia are a real
 possibility.  In October 2001, at a provincial Tobacco Conference, Premier
 John Hamm and Health Minister Jamie Muir announced their commitment to
 introduce second-hand or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) legislation in
 the Spring 2002 sitting of the Legislature. Since then, community support
 has been overwhelming.

 But it is still unclear what the exact scope of  provincial government's
commitment will be. Will the legislation completely eliminate all exposure
 to secondhand tobacco smoke in indoor public places and workplaces or will
 it allow partial bans and ventilated chambers?  Citizen input will be
 important to insure the legislation is as strong as possible.

 Given all the scientific evidence compiled internationally, the only
 effective solution that protects health is one that provides for 100%
 smoke-free indoor public places and work sites. Anything less will not
 adequately address the problem of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke.

 Smoke-Free Nova Scotia believes that comprehensive legislation is a pivotal
 part of protecting people from secondhand tobacco smoke as well as reducing
 the number of people who smoke. Smoke-free legislation has also been shown
 to play an important part in preventing youth smoking.

 The most effective thing you can do to influence policy on this issue is to
 make sure your MLA knows you support legislation which would make all
 indoor public places and workplaces 100% smoke free.  The more personal
 your contact with your MLA is, the more effective it will be. Meeting with
 and having a personal discussion with your MLA is most effective, a
 telephone conversation with your MLA or one of his or her assistants is
 almost as good and a personal letter or email message is much more
 effective than a form letter or postcard.

 If you need to be better informed before contacting you MLA, there are
 resources available from Smoke Free Nova Scotia.

 "No if's and's or but's", Smoke-Free Nova Scotia's Policy Statement is
 available at their website: http://www.smokefreens.ca

 They also have MLA contact information, fact sheets, sample letters, and a
 sample phone script. There are sample letters to the editor and two 3
 minute Public Service Announcements for your local radio station which you
 can use.

 In March, Smoke Free Nova Scotia will be holding skill-building workshops
 throughout the province to raise public awareness about the ill-effects of
 secondhand tobacco smoke and provide advocacy skills for healthy public
 policy.

 For further information or to register for workshops contact Smoke-Free
 Nova Scotia's Public Awareness Coordinator, Ms. Catherine Cole at (902)
 435-4886 or email cjcole@accesswave.ca or call Smoke-Free Nova Scotia at
 1-866-777-7374.



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CBC enviro news-briefs follow:
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SIR JOHN A MACDONALD SCHOOL CLOSED
More than 1,100 high school students are in for a major schedule shake up,
following the closure of Sir John A MacDonald High School because of air
quality problems. 
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_sirjohn020227

TREATMENT PLANT LOCATION APPROVED
Halifax Regional Council has voted in favour of putting a sewage treatment
plant at the corner of Barrington and Cornwallis Streets in Halifax. The
site was approved despite last minute efforts to delay the vote. 
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_plant020227

RAIL DELIVERIES RESUME IN CAPE BRETON
The Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway is making deliveries to Cape
Breton again.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_rail020227

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