Nicotinenazis Having A Field Day

If the fiberals at Queens Park and the nicotine nazis want publicity they would have come off looking at lot better if their press conference had been to announce that they had charged Penn and others and that the appropriate fines had been paid. What is to investigate? Penn was shown on tv lighting up........

Stink over Penn smoking

City investigating breach of law at film fest

By ANTONELLA ARTUSO, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU CHIEF

Public health officials are investigating actor Sean Penn's apparent violation of the province's new anti-smoking law at a Toronto film festival press conference.

Ontario Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson said the Smoke-Free Ontario Act applies to Penn, just as it applies to any tavern patron who opts to light up in an enclosed public space.

"No one is above the law," Watson said yesterday.

Penn was photographed with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth as he answered reporters' questions at an indoor press conference at the Sutton Place Hotel on Sunday.

The provincial law that came into effect this spring bans smoking in enclosed work and public places to protect people from secondhand smoke.

Ontario chief medical officer of health Sheela Basrur said officials will first look to the proprietor to ensure that everyone was notified about the law.

Those who ignore warnings could be fined $105.

Denny Alexander, a spokesman for the Toronto International Film Festival, issued a statement yesterday.

"The festival and our hotel partners make every effort possible to ensure that our guests are aware of and respect Ontario's Smoke-Free Act," he said. "We apologize that our moderator did not address the issue during the press conference."

Christopher Ashby, a spokesman for the Sutton Place Hotel, said signs alerting guests to the smoking law is posted in the hotel.

Watson said he expects public health units to enforce the law.

"Sean Penn's a great actor but, quite frankly, if he was smoking in breach of the law and if someone was notified from the public health unit in Toronto, he could be charged and he should be charged," the minister said.

Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's medical officer of health, said an official investigation began yesterday.

"We take second-hand smoke very seriously in Ontario," he said.

Michael Perley of the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco said high-profile celebrities can have a substantial influence on young people and shouldn't be allowed to get away with breaking the law.

"It was such a flagrant breach of the law with pictures on the front pages of at least one newspaper that I saw that I think it absolutely should be a target for enforcement action," Perley said.