Winnipeg city council votes to ban smoking, vaping on restaurant, bar patios

No butts about it, Winnipeg city council has voted to ban smoking on restaurant and bar patios. (Photo by Susanne Nilsson/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

WINNIPEG — No butts about it, Winnipeg city council has voted to ban smoking on restaurant and bar patios.

The bylaw that is to go into effect April 1 prohibits smoking or vaping where food and alcohol is served outside.

Last June, the Manitoba Lung Association said that Winnipeg is the last major city in Canada that allows smoking on patios.

The association urged city council to act quickly, but groups such as the Manitoba Hotel Association argued that the industry would suffer from more restrictions.

Last week, Mayor Brian Bowman’s executive policy committee passed the proposed rule, which was voted on by council Thursday.

The committee added one clause, that a review of the new rule will be done in two years.