Provincial legislation and municipal by-laws have been enacted to regulate smoking in the workplace and in post-secondary educational institutions. The University must comply with the law. In addition, as an educational institution, the University should not endorse or condone practices which harm health, and should provide leadership to the community by endeavouring to eliminate a controllable health hazard from its buildings.
It is the policy of the University of Toronto that smoking is prohibited in all University buildings with the exception of Designated Smoking Areas as hereinafter described. In furtherance of that policy, no employee or student will be required to perform any activities or meet any obligations in a Designated Smoking Area (except for repairs and servicing of the space). Moreover, cigarettes, tobacco, and other tobacco products will not be sold on premises occupied by the University of Toronto.
1. Smoking areas may be designated only in the following areas: (1) a residence, or (2) a regular campus pub.
2. Cafeterias cannot be or contain Designated Smoking Areas.
3. Private offices cannot be or contain Designated Smoking Areas.
4. Regular campus pubs may permit smoking provided that smoke does not intrude into other areas of the building, and that the smoking area is clearly designated by signs.
5. A list of Designated Smoking Areas with any associated restrictions will be maintained and approved by the Vice-President, Administration and Human Resources.
6. First Nations House is designated as a location where tobacco may be smoked for traditional aboriginal cultural or spiritual purposes.
This policy applies to all users of the University of Toronto including employees, students and visitors. All supervisors are responsible for the enforcement of this policy in the same manner as other University policies and rules. For regular campus pubs, the pub managers are responsible for enforcement of this policy. The University of Toronto Police will, if necessary, enforce the no smoking provisions under the appropriate legislation and by-laws.
University residences will establish their own smoking policies, which should be based on the following criteria:
1. smoking in common areas should be restricted to clearly identified smoking areas;
2. residents in single rooms (and their guests) may smoke in the room, provided the door is closed; and
3. residents in double or multiple rooms (and their guests) may not smoke in the room unless the other resident or residents agree;
4. smoking policies in residences must comply with any relevant municipal, regulatory or legislative requirements.
Organizers and attendees at public events using University facilities, such as conferences, meetings, public lectures, social events and cultural events, will be required to abide by the University Smoking Policy. Organizers of such events are responsible for communicating this policy to attendees and for enforcing the policy.
The Facilities and Services Department will, in accordance with municipal, regulatory and legislative requirements and with this Policy, place appropriate signs at the entrances to all University buildings. Pub managers will post and maintain signs identifying the smoking areas.
Research indicates that between fifteen and thirty percent of smokers are still unaware of or do not accept important health risks of smoking. The University, through the Student Health Services and the Occupational Health Service, will undertake education efforts to inform members of its community as to the serious health effects of direct and secondhand smoke.
To assist staff members and students who wish to stop smoking, the University will provide smoking cessation workshops on campus if there is sufficient demand. Courses will be co-ordinated by the Student Health Services for students, and the Occupational Health Service for employees.
Ontario Tobacco Control Act, 1994;
Ontario Regulation 613/94.
Ontario Smoking in the Workplace Act, 1989.
City of Toronto, By-Law 643-91, Respecting smoking in the workplace
City of Toronto, By-Laws 406-79, 501-92, Respecting smoking in public places and the designation of non-smoking areas in restaurants.