Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. I spoke earlier today in my Member's statement about a number of the health implications that smoking in a vehicle would have while minors are in the vehicle. I want to share just a little bit more about different information that I have been able to collect through our research department that I think is important to share today. Hopefully, it helps garner support for today's motion.
Legal bans against smoking in vehicles when minors are present, Mr. Speaker, it is not new. This is common in Canada. There are at least eight provinces and territories that have such provisions in their legislation. Mr. Speaker, it is fairly straightforward. In some instances, for example in Alberta, their legislation as it relates to the Alberta Tobacco and Smoking Reduction has a simple statement that simply says, "Subject to section 5, no person shall smoke... in a vehicle in which a minor is present." It can be that simple.
Mr. Speaker, there is also some detail that has been provided with regard to various fines for offences. I won't get into that kind of detail here and now. I think that will be up to the government to potentially take consideration of.
In the NWT, smoking prohibition falls under the Tobacco Control Act. Part 3 of this act pertains to the protection against environmental tobacco smoke. This part prohibits smoking in a public place, which is quite broadly defined. Also, smoking in public transit and commercial vehicles is also prohibited.
Mr. Speaker, I recognize also that enforcement is an issue that some people might have concern with, but it is not easy, of course, to enforce such a law. These are the kinds of things similar to that of not using handheld devices and seatbelts that, with education and enforcement, over time these become effective ways of shaping the public's norms and producing the desired behaviour.
Mr. Speaker, I will not get much more into the health implications. I kind of described some of that in my Member's statement today. I just do want to say that there is a lot of public support for this type of law, and, besides the provinces and territories mentioned, there are numerous communities in Canada that have adopted bylaws to prohibit smoking in vehicles with minors present. The movement to adopt similar legislation is international in scope, by the way. Other jurisdictions that ban smoking in vehicles with minors present include Maine, California, Arkansas, Louisiana, Michigan, and so on. In 2008, a poll by the Canadian Cancer Society found that 82 per cent of Canadians supported a ban on smoking in cars carrying children, and that 69 per cent of smokers supported such a ban. That's smokers, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, there are a number of jurisdictions across Canada that have implemented this, and I will be happy to share the background information and research that we have done on that with the respective department. So that is all that I have at this point. I look forward to hearing from other Members and hope for their support at the end of our proceeding. Thank you.