Smokers light up as protest against restrictions

In Bridgewater, the largest town in the South Shore region, Nova Scotia, smokers initiated a demonstration against the new restrictions that the local government plans to adopt in the near future. The ordinance will prohibit smoking in almost all public places within the town’s limits.

The protest was launched in the Nova Scotia community’s two bridges where several dozens of people lit up cigarettes to protest against the new bylaw.

According to the new ordinance, if it is approved, the bridges will remain the only public places in Bridgewater where smoking will be allowed.

Truly speaking, it wouldn’t be shocking news that soon smoking will be prohibited on the bridges as well. Smoking was already banned in cars when a child is present.

The police said the protest was peaceful and without any incidents.

Mayor Carroll Publicover has not shown an intense excitement concerning the new measure. Mayor said that the proposal was “unreasonable”, as it would be impossible to enforce the rules on the town’s 66 kilometres of streets and 34 kilometres of sidewalks.

Bridgewater is the second Nova Scotia community, after Wolfville, where more severe restrictions for smoking were introduced.

There are some questions that remain unanswerable: where should smokers go to smoke? Should all of them go to bridges to light up? It is not reasonable.

Creation of special places where smokers can enjoy their habit will be more reasonable and realistic for successful implementation of the ordinance.