Randy Hillier Charged Under Smoke Free Ontario Act

Jeff Green | Jul 12, 2012

LFL&A MPP Randy Hillier has been charged under the Smoke Free Ontario Act and will appear in court on July 24.

According to Hillier, the situation arose when a member of the Leeds and Grenville Public Health Unit came to his constituency office in Perth to do an inspection.

“He found a case of empties in a corner behind a fridge,” Hillier said, “and there was a cigarette butt in one of the empty bottles. They said that the beer bottle was a potential ash tray and it is prohibited to have ashtrays in public buildings, so they charged me.”

Hillier will be challenging the charge.

“It is just ridiculous to say a beer bottle is an ashtray. Anybody who buys beer can be seen as defying the Act.”

The News contacted the Leeds Grenville Health Unit for comment.

Yves Decoste, representing the Heath Unit said that Mr. Hillier was charged “under the section 93D of the Smoke Free Ontario Act. The specific charge is ‘failure of an employer to ensure that no ashtrays or similar equipment are present in the workplace.’”

Mr. Decoste refrained from comment when asked if the ashtray in question was in fact an empty beer bottle.

“The details of the case will be made public in provincial court,” Decoste said. “He has contested the charge and he will appear in court in Perth on July 24.”

The fine for the offence under the Smoke Free Ontario Act is $325 (including the provincial surcharge)