A decade after the city banned smoking indoors, the next phase of the bylaw expansion would make all city properties -including beaches, more than 1,000 parks and 300 city facilities, including the ByWard and Parkdale market stalls - smoke-free zones. Smoking on city streets and sidewalks would still be allowed.
More controversial will be the push to keep smoking off of outdoor restaurant and pub patios.
Other municipalities have done "bits and pieces" of what Ottawa is proposing, said the city's chief medical officer of health, Dr. Isra Levy, but he added: "We believe the comprehensiveness of what's being done here puts Ottawa back on top."
"It's a complete package we have that will make the city a healthier place," said Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes, who heads the city's public health board.
The popularity of voluntary "smoke-free" signs in parks is growing, and the proposed bylaw expansion reflects that public desire for more smoke-free spaces, Holmes said.
Ottawa Public Health has been consulting residents and businesses on the plan for the past year.
"It's clear that people want this," Holmes said.
Smokers were included in the consultation, and they generally supported the recommendation, although in smaller numbers than the general population, Levy said.
"We're seeing a respect for non-smokers," he said.
The expanded bylaw was set to be discussed at a public health board meeting on Feb. 6, by the community and protective services committee on Feb. 15 and it would need council's final approval on Feb. 22.
Fines of $305 would begin to be handed out after July 2, with a warning period from April 2 to July 2.
The expanded bylaw won't require any additional funds to enforce, according to the report.
The program would include money to provide some "butt bins" to restaurants to provide places for smokers to discard their cigarettes.
The cost of second-hand smoke is around $2 billion a year to the Ontario health care system, public health officials said.
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