Smoking and vaping in public parks, trails and within 10 metres of a city facility could soon be banned, if a bylaw currently before council gets passed.

Last night, council gave second reading to the proposed Smoking Bylaw, which would also ban cannabis consumption in public. Rules regarding tobacco would be applied to medical users.

Regulating cannabis consumption was the impetus for this bylaw.

“If we’re going to put some of these recommendations in place that our cannabis readiness committee has recommended, we need to have something more in place,” said Diane Piche, the city’s Director of Corporate Services.

“We are only going by the Tobacco Smoking and Reduction Act. We don’t have a bylaw in place right now.”

Enacting the bylaw would require city to install 155 signs at various parks, playgrounds and facilities at a cost of about $5,400.

The fine for a first offence would be $250, $500 for a second and $1,000 for third and subsequent offences.

However, Piche says voluntary compliance is always the initial goal.

“Education of the citizens is going to be our first goal. To make sure they understand what is required … what’s allowed, what’s not,” she said.

“Just talk and educate and explain the reasons as to why something like this would be enforced.”