Re: “Politicians push designated smoking areas,” April 13.
So Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin opposes designated smoking areas. According to Fortin, smokers should just learn to manage their addictions. Presumably, in his mind, smoking only in designated areas that can be avoided by nonsmokers doesn’t constitute managing one’s addictions.
What then does constitute management in Fortin’s mind? Homeless people smoking in the middle of the road to comply with the seven-metre requirement? What a good idea!
In one fell swoop, the city could severely reduce the numbers of those whose homes are the streets and those social undesirables who, for whatever reason, continue to use a legal product of which the mayor disapproves.
But just a minute, isn’t this the same mayor who supports supervised or “safe” injection sites for illegal drugs, most often acquired through criminal activities like theft and pimping?
Let’s hope the more thoughtful and compassionate approach of councillors Ben Isitt and Shellie Gudgeon will prevail.
Paula Khan
Victoria
