Ottawa’s Leading Edge Bylaws: A Case Study

Ottawa, the nation’s capital, is a city of almost 900,000 residents and is located along the Quebec-Ontario border. Ottawa has long been a national smoke-free leader. In 2001 it was one of the first municipalities in Canada to prohibit smoking in enclosed workplaces and public places, in 2006 smoking was prohibited within 9 metres of City facilities, and a smoke-free transit system was enacted in 2007. Ottawa is now once again at the forefront, enacting innovative bylaws to create a variety of smoke-free outdoor spaces.