Come May 31, smoking will be attempted to be banned/villified in the province of Quebec. The phrase "When in Rome ... " no longer here applies. Hopefully.

... the bill provides that smoking is prohibited in enclosed spaces used by private clubs and reserved for members and their guests, in enclosed spaces where the activities held are reserved for persons invited or authorized to attend by the host and in tents, under big tops and in other similar facilities that are open to the public. It also prohibits smoking at certain hours on school grounds and the grounds of childcare centres, and within ninemetres from any exterior door leading to a facility of a health and social services institution, to a building of a general and vocational college or a university or to a facility of a childcare centre. Smoking will no longer be permitted in pubs, taverns, bars and bingo halls, nor will it any longer be possible for smoking areas to be designated in such places as restaurants, the common areas of shopping centres, the gaming areas of state-owned casinos, amusement halls, marine passenger terminals, bus stations and railway passenger stations. The bill restricts the use of smoking rooms to the people lodged in certain places.

Holy shit, that's a big deal for PQ. At my xmas party on Saturday, people were talking about other provinces smoking policies and I had the pleasure of relaying the best smoking week of my life in 2002 while in Quebec City. You could smoke everywhere, it was practically encouraged by the placement of ashtrays everywhere. Even in hotel lobbies, I felt like it was another time.

Overall, it's a good thing for health in PQ, but it was fun as hell lighting up anywhere I wanted.

What i don't get is May 31. Why not Jan 1st?

WTF yo. June 1st I'll be one happy camper.

May 31 because of compassion for smokers. Because that's when winter finally ends.

Smoking here is not as prolific as in Paris, I found, where I had a ball smoking on metro landings. It's just that here you go to a bar and everyone fucking smokes. It's disgusting. I quit just over a month ago, and I realize that I used to go out to smoke. It makes going out somewhat difficult, and I can't wait for this law to take effect.

Will it fly is another question. And can we find a way to condone pot smoking in even more public places?

Nice work on quitting, Esh.

Yeah, it's so nice going out here in TO and not having to come home with your hair & clothes full of nasty smoke. Oh yeah, and you know... not getting cancer and stuff.

Official attempt the 2nd.