In our communities, the health unit's tobacco enforcement officers (TEOs), who are designated as provincial offences officers by the Ministry of Health, are responsible for making sure residents, businesses, and community partners are in compliance with all indoor and outdoor areas and premises designated 100% smoke-free and vape-free under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017. Indoor and outdoor smoke-free and vape-free areas and premises are also described here. Smoking and vaping of cannabis is prohibited in the same indoor and outdoor spaces and places where smoking and vaping is prohibited. All tobacco and vapour retailers are educated and inspected to prevent illegal sales of tobacco or vapour products to persons under the age of 19.
TEOs help to ensure public places and workplaces are in compliance by:
- providing businesses, institutions, schools, public places, multi-unit housing buildings, and condominiums with education and the No Smoking and No Vaping signage required by law to be posted in workplaces (including work vehicles) and public places;
- responding to complaints of people smoking or vaping in No Smoking and No Vaping areas including smoking and vaping of cannabis;
- educating tobacco and vapour product retailers about the laws that govern the sale and promotion of these products and accessories (see Retail Sales Under the SFOA, 2017); and
- ensuring compliance with the laws banning the supply or sale of all tobacco and vapour products to anyone under the age of 19.
If you would like to register a complaint about someone vaping or smoking tobacco or cannabis or vaping in a prohibited location, selling tobacco or vapour products to youth under 19 years of age, or other violations of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017, please call the health unit at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or go to our Contact Us page and a TEO will be assigned to investigate.
No Smoking and No Vaping Sign Requirements under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017
Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Signage Requirements for Employers and Public Place Proprietors
Employers and public place proprietors are required by provincial law to place No Smoking and No Vaping signs at each entrance and exit of enclosed workplaces, in work vehicles, enclosed public places, and other areas where vaping and smoking, including cannabis, is prohibited in regulated locations (including washrooms), and in sufficient numbers to ensure that employees and the public are aware that no smoking and no vaping is not permitted in the place or area.
For more information on the requirement to post provincial No Smoking and No Vaping signs for workplaces and public places, click here.
Signs are available at not cost. Please call the health unit at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or go to our Contact Us page and a tobacco enforcement officer or program staff will follow up.
