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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, April 22, 2016 | 6 Prevention is best With 2016 marking the 10th anniversary of the implementation of Smoke-Free Ontario strategies, the Province recently revealed it is proposing even tougher laws designed to protect the health of people. Speci cally, Ontario is proposing to strengthen smoking laws to better protect people from secondhand smoke from a tobacco product or medical marijuana. The Province is also proposing changes to regulate the use, sale, display and promotion of electronic cigarettes. According to the Province, studies show young people are less likely to become regular smokers when living in areas with strong tobacco control regulations when compared to areas where regulations are weaker. To strengthen its smoking laws, Ontario introduced amendments recently to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, as well as to the regulation under the Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015. If passed, the amendments would: · Prohibit the use of e-cigarettes and the smoking and vaping of medical marijuana in all enclosed public places, enclosed workplaces, and other speci ed outdoors areas; · Expand the list of places where e-cigarettes are prohibited for sale; · Establish rules for the display and promotion of e-cigarettes in places where they are sold and prohibit the testing of e-cigarettes where they are sold. Ontario is also funding research to better understand the health impacts of e-cigarettes, including their potential as a smoking cessation aid. "It is important to ensure that Ontarians are protected from second-hand smoke and from the potential dangers of e-cigarettes. That is why we are proposing these changes and we look forward to the upcoming consultations with our stakeholders," said Associate Minister of Health and LongTerm Care Dipika Damerla. According to the Province, the smoking rate in Ontario fell from 24.5 per cent in 2000 to 17.4 per cent in 2014, representing 408,000 fewer smokers. We support changes that will reduce the general public's exposure to second-hand smoke and potentially reduce the number of people exposed to potentially life-shortening health risks because of their decision to smoke. And for those who made that decision, and now regret it, there is help to quit. The Canadian Cancer Society and Running Room in Oakville have teamed up to help people do just that. Run to Quit is a 10-week smoking cessation program where participants walk or run ve-kilometres while receiving support on quitting smoking. "As an ex-smoker and running convert, when I saw this new Run to Quit program was being developed, I couldn't wait to be a part of it," said Christopher Gulliford, program instructor at the Running Room in Oakville. Quitting is possible. For more information, visit www.runtoquit.com. And for those who don't smoke, tougher legislation is more than welcome. Editorial W A R M W E L C O M E "Connected to your Community" 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 Sunny skies and balmy temperatures, soaring into the 20 C this week saw residents get out and about, in all manner of ways, to welcome the warm weather. Pictured in Coronation Park, Allan Clark gives his daughter, Ruby, 6, a steadying hand as she rides a trail at the park. General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 54 | Number 33 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER KELLY MONTAGUE DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_ photog or facebook. com/HaltonPhotog) ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager LORI ANN GZOVDANOVIC Director of Production MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA My View Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Law required for medical assistance in dying E Oakville MP invites public input on Bill C-14 John Oliver Oakville MP nd-of-life medical care is a complex and sensitive topic. Currently, Canadians can proactively declare their future health care preferences through `living wills.' Canadians have the right also to refuse medical treatment, such as ventilator use or chemotherapy, and to receive sedative medication to alleviate their suffering at the end of life. In addition to these current options, the Supreme Court of Canada recently ruled the law must permit some form of medical assistance in dying. In its Feb. 6, 2015 decision, in Carter v. Canada, the Supreme Court ruled two sections of the Criminal Code were unconstitutional because they prohibited physicians from performing assisted-suicides. While the Criminal Code intended to protect vulnerable persons from being induced to commit suicide, it also restricted competent adults from making end-of-life decisions when suffering from grievous medical conditions. The Supreme Court ruled Parliament must amend the criminal law to allow for medical assistance in dying by June 6, 2016. To ful ll Parliament's responsibility in light of Carter v. Canada, the Justice Minister tabled Bill Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association C-14 on April 14. This bill re ects the government's commitment to craft legislation that respects both the rights of Canadians and the jurisdiction of the provinces and territories. Now that this legislation has been introduced in the House of Commons, parliamentarians can begin the next phase of consultation. I urge my constituents to contact me by email (at john.oliver@parl.gc.ca) to share their thoughts on this legislation (available on www.parl.gc.ca by searching for the document number, "8183660"). Given the time-sensitive nature of this issue, I hope to receive public input within the next couple of weeks. It is very important to me I hear your views on the restrictions and stipulations that should be applied to medical assistance in dying. Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 or via email to ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.