a quick comment about the following statement...

"Mr. Gould is upset at what he considers a hypocritical approach to smoking by the senior levels of government in Canada. While they allow the growing of tobacco and the manufacture of cigarettes, they then tax the product heavily and punish small businesses in places where it is consumed, he explained. "I should be able to have a smoking-environment restaurant and it should be your choice whether you come in or not. It should be your choice as a free citizen."

firstly - people might argue (much more elegantly of course) that I should be able to have a drinking-environment (all day long and all night long) and it is your choice as a free citizen.... uh, no... the laws on drinking limits are there for your own good - because you alone sometimes are not good enough to know better....

more silly comments about what you can't do - but are pretty much what is currently being done with smoking in public places... you are not allowed to put poison in my soup ... but that doesn't mean i can't have it taxed and / or sell in a pharmacie...

i'm sorry - but i am totally biased around this smoking issue... my parents are hard-core chronic smokers and i hate every minute of that sheeat (and yes i have smoked...)

and sorry - the fair competition thing is required... especially when you are talking about employees who may not have a choice - espeically in a town like renfrew where we only have 1 bar

and final boohoo to all those addicted smorkers out there ... learn to cope ...