Feds Approve On-Reserve Smoking Bylaw

Feds Approve On-Reserve Smoking Bylaw

Wednesday, January 19, 2005 at 13:24

The federal government is keeping its distance from the on-reserve smoking controversy in Saskatchewan.

In a letter written to First Nations Relations Minister Maynard Sonntag, Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott says he will not be disallowing a smoking bylaw enacted by the White Bear First Nation.

The provincial government had been hoping Scott would not allow First Nations to pass bylaws on reserves and in native-owned casinos that are weaker than the province’s complete ban on smoking in all indoor public places.

However, Scott states in his letter that, over the past twenty-five years, Indian Affairs ministers who have disallowed bylaws made under the Indian Act have only done so on legal and jurisdictional grounds — not for public policy reasons.

Scott also says he believes that First Nations communities should be making their own decisions, in spite of his own “strong personal view” that governments should do all they can to minimize the health risks associated with smoking.

Sonntag has not been available for comment today.

Yesterday, Sonntag told reporters that the province might be willing to make concessions on other First Nations rights issues in order to get bands to adopt the province’s smoking law.