Canada is the latest country to suggest banning smoking in cars which carry child passengers. Canadian doctors and the Canadian Medical Association are calling for a country wide ban on smoking in all vehicles which carry children including private cars in order to protect young lungs from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

 

The recommendation has won resounding support at the Canadian Medical Association's annual general meeting in Vancouver.

 

“The risk of secondhand smoke is quite clear to everyone in this room,” Dr. Atul Kapur, of Ottawa, said in making the motion. “There are few areas where children are still exposed but one of them is vehicles. They don't have a choice about whether to be exposed or not and because of the concentrated atmosphere and the enclosed space, the risk is much higher.”

 

Sandra Luscombe, a pediatrician from St. John's, NL, said: “This is a child protection issue. The law would be educational and no more difficult to enforce than ones requiring seat-belt usage and prohibiting drivers from talking on cellular phones”.

 

Surrey RCMP spokesman Sgt. Jean Hamm told The Vancouver Sun that if such a law is passed the Mounties would enforce it.

 

Newfoundland and Labrador's Dr. Lydia Hatcher said doctors have an excellent opportunity to push for environmental protections because politicians from all political parties are paying attention to the issue and will likely continue to do so leading up to the next federal election.

 

Source: The Vancouver Sun, 23 August 2007