A First Nations community is planning to take advantage of its exemption from Manitoba's looming ban on smoking in public places by promoting their reserve as a safe haven for people who want to light up.
New provincial regulations, set to come into effect on Friday, ban smoking in enclosed places accessible to the public and indoor workplaces. It includes, among others, bars, restaurants, stores, bowling alleys and bingo halls.
People can still smoke on public patios, as long as the patio meets certain size requirements.
Breaking the law could result in a fine of $100-$1,000 for people, and a fine of $500-$15,000 for businesses.
However, the new law won't apply to First Nations communities.
The Roseau River First Nation, about 90 kilometres south of Winnipeg, says it's planning to take advantage of the exemption and attract smokers.
The band is building a new $1 million gaming hall expected to open in January 2005, and it plans to bus people in from Winnipeg for bingo and cheap cigarettes.
The chief of the Roseau River First Nation makes no apologies for trying to recruit smokers.
"This is an opportunity for people who have 77 per cent unemployment," said Terry Nelson.
He hopes the new venture will create as many as 15 permanent jobs and take in $2 million a year.
Businesses affected by the smoking ban say they're worried the smoke-friendly reserve will draw customers away.
Gilles Barnabe, the owner of Oscar's Bar in nearby Letellier, says he's concerned his business will suffer.
"I feel it's not a fair playing field – where they're smoking three miles from here, and we're not allowed to have smoking."
The province says it had hoped First Nations would honour the ban, even though they aren't legally required to.
"I asked if they would consider replicating our law as a BCR – band council resolution," said Jim Rondeau, the province's minister of Healthy Living.