For immediate release: Dec. 27, 2003

EDMONTON — New Year’s resolution — quit smoking in 2004!

That’s what the province of Alberta should promise itself, its employees and its citizens, says the president of the province’s largest union again this year.

“We made this suggestion last year and Alberta just couldn’t see its way to quitting smoking,” said Dan MacLennan, president of the 58,000-member Alberta Union of Provincial Employees. “Well, it’s not too late to try again and make a New Year’s resolution to quit tobacco.”

MacLennan said the province needs to impose policies and statutes to put the butts out next year in all provincial facilities, regardless of their purpose. He noted that smoking in provincial correctional facilities, including jails, is an obvious hazard to staff.

“The evidence that second-hand smoke harms people is overwhelming. There should be no more smoking in provincial or other public facilities after 2004. Period.”

MacLennan argued that making such a resolution would amount to wishing Albertans a healthier New Year. “In a time of great concern about the cost of the provincial health care system, this policy would pay financial dividends over the long term.”

MacLennan warned that is such a ban is not imposed, governments and other public employers are certain to face rising costs as employees, former employees and their families seek redress and compensation for disease and death caused by the environment in which they worked.

“Let’s have a happy and healthy 2004,” MacLennan said. “Banning second-hand smoke in all workplaces makes good sense in terms of public policy and general health and safety. It would also be a positive step toward reducing health care costs to workers, employers and governments.”

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-232-8392 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)