Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Ottawa city council for its efforts to ban smoking in public places.
Today, Dr. Sunil Patel, president of the Canadian Medical Association, presented Ottawa city council with the excellence in health promotion award.
This new award is presented to all municipalities across Canada that have passed bylaws to ban smoking in all indoor public places as of July 1, 2003.
In taking action to ban smoking in public places, Ottawa has joined a list of cities that have chosen to take decisive action both to ensure that a healthier environment is available for Canadians and to send the message that healthier living includes not smoking.
I ask the House to join me in commending the Ottawa city council for its efforts which have helped ensure that residents of the nation's capital are able to live and work in a smoke free environment.