Council Committee Calls for Ban on Hookah Shows in Edmonton, Citing Health Concerns

EDMONTON – Concerns about the health effects of second-hand smoke have sparked calls for the ban on narghile shows in Edmonton.

On Wednesday, the community and public services committee of the city asked the administration to ban the use of shisha and water pipes in public places, as the settlement about smoking.

Although the report to the council only went to a greater number of regulations for hookah shows – which do not currently fall under existing license categories – councilors were influenced by the concerns of health experts.

Palwasha Khan, of the Canadian Cancer Society, says that she studied every chemical in shisha smoke – with and without tobacco – and that she found little difference.

"They are still dangerous," she said. "Both have chemicals that have absolutely no tolerance in the code of health and safety at work."

"Middle Eastern countries traditionally use Shisha in rural areas, and it was used by older men as a form of communication, as a form of socialization." He had tobacco, but he was not not flavored, "she said.

" The way it is used now … it's not a cultural problem, it's a socialization problem, where children are exposed to these practices … and we know that if children start using shisha, they will start using cigarettes. And we want to get rid of the modeling behavior.

She added that in many Middle Eastern countries, such as Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Lebanon, the hookah is technically prohibited.

Councilor Ben Henderson pointed out that the arguments surrounding the shisha are the same as those that have been invoked about public smoking.

"Our concern is to make sure that there is no effect for this second person who does not May not have the choice of being there. This is the essential question. I do not understand why we left Shisha out of the debate in the first place, "he said.

Unlike the rest of the committee, Councilor Jon Dziadyk says he does not support the motion.

"I do not think many people fully understand what is going on in these places," he said.

Dziadyk says that if councilors want to ban shisha, they should First visit the institutions and see what's going on inside the lounges.

"There are only 44 places in Edmonton and the people who go in are very clear." Dziadyk said that "there are only 44 places in Edmonton and the people who come in are very clear." he visited the institutions, but that he did not participate in smoking shisha because of "weak lungs."

He said that he understood the concerns of the committee at the health of people working in narghile salons, but these concerns can be attributed to any The establishment, "including in the kitchen, where you use sharp knives or hot gas in pizza ovens."

North of Edmonton, the review by the committee of a ban is unfair.

"The shisha is a cultural thing.What they do, it's take the culture of the community.They have not considered what is the cultural relationship with the community. It's not fair, "he said, adding that the majority of his clientele were East Africans and West Africans.

"They come to smoke shisha, it's a gathering place, there's gossip and they listen to their own music, they do not listen to any country or anything like that … Where are they going? they go? "

The report for making changes to the public places bylaw to prohibit the use of shisha and water pipes in public places

The report will also include the date on which the ban will come into effect

Kashmala Fida is an Edmonton reporter who covers City Hall and diversity. Follow her on Twitter: @KashFida