Oakville first in Ontario to ban youths from tanning beds By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Oakville became the first Ontario municipality to restrict tanning bed use, Monday -- anyone under age 18 cannot use them effective immediately. Town council voted unanimously to pass a bylaw amendment prohibiting youths under the age of 18 from using tanning equipment at local salons. Brought forward by Ward 2 Town Councillor Pam Damoff, the new law is intended to protect young people who Damoff said are particularly at risk of developing skin cancer through the use of tanning beds. "I'm proud to live in a community that isn't afraid to take a stand to protect young people. I am also very proud to be part of a council that will make history when we pass this bylaw." "There is nothing more critical than your doctor looking at you in the eye and saying, `You've got cancer,'" said Ward 1 Town Councillor Ralph Robinson, who was also instrumental in bringing about the new rule. Council's decision received support from both the Canadian Cancer Society and the Melanoma Network of Canada. It is the Canadian Cancer Society's position the ultraviolet radiation emitted by tanning beds has been proven to cause cancer with one expert stating people who first use indoor tanning equipment before the age of 35 have an 87 per cent increased risk of developing melanoma skin cancer. "Oakville has shown its commitment to the fight against cancer by passing the first indoor tanning bylaw in Ontario. Regulating the indoor tanning industry will save lives and help reverse the rising cost of skin cancer on an already exhausted health-care system," said Florentina Stancu-Soare, public issues senior co-ordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society in Ontario. "We hope this decision will lay the groundwork for other jurisdictions to follow suit." Annette Cyr, founder and chair of the Melanoma Network of Canada, also commended the Town and called on the Province of Ontario to follow Oakville's lead and enact similar legislation province-wide. Cyr said World Health Organization(WHO)research indicates use of tanning beds poses a significant health risk, particularly to children and youths, increasing the risk of developing melanoma or other skin cancers by up to 75 per cent. Not everyone was happy about the ban. Teens wanting to get a tan in Oakville must now go to a beach or an outof-town tanning salon. Local tanning salon owner Steve Williams told council he was disappointed with what he called an `antitanning bylaw,' put together without a thorough examination of the issue. Williams said the bulk of teens who come into tanning salons, do so with their parents to prepare for a tropical vacation and prevent severe sunburn, which he believes is the real cause of skin cancer. "If you go directly into that Mexican sun without preparing your skin in any way or form, you are going directly from the freezer to the frying pan," he said. "That's like not stretching before you go skiing. By using a tanning salon five to 10 times before they go, they are getting that gradual acclimatization so there isn't this shock to the skin." Ward 2 Town and Regional Councillor Cathy Duddeck asked Williams whether holiday sunburns could simply be prevented with sunscreen. Williams replied that most people don't apply sunscreen properly or regularly enough to prevent sunburns. Cyr called the idea that pre-tanning prevents sunburns a myth created to sell unneeded tans. Williams claimed some teens are referred to tanning salons by doctors who recommend tanning to deal with certain skin conditions. Ward 6 Town Councillor Max Khan said the bylaw does have an exception for medical tanning beds. The exemption does not cover tanning beds found in commercial tanning salons. Tanning businesses that continue to serve teens could receive a maximum $25,000 fine for a first offence and $50,000 for any subsequent offence. An incorporated tanning business could get a maximum $50,000 fine for a first offence and $100,000 for any subsequent offence. 3 · Wednesday, August 15, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Inside Opinion............................................6 Artscene.........................................17 Sports.............................................18 Classified........................................20 Full Delivery: Real Estate, Sport Chek, Rona, Globo Shoes, Oakville Laser Clinic & Spa, World of Wheels, The UPS Store, JYSK, Atmosphere, IKEA, National Sports, Shopping News Partial Delivery: XS Cargo, Bentley Leather, Bonnie Togs, Carter's Osh Kosh, Bouclair, Staples, ICI Dulux, Home Depot For home delivery & customer service call 905-631-6095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington New subscriptions call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com Helping You Make Smart Decisions About Your Money Shopping marathon today REGISTER START SH TODAY, O & WE'LL S PPING. 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