Smoke-free campus

The health and safety of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s and Durham College’s (DC) campus community are of the utmost importance. With this in mind, both institutions are pleased to introduce an interim smoke-free campus policy, effective Monday, October 15. This interim policy applies to all members of the campus community including students, staff, faculty, visitors and contractors.

The risks and negative impacts of second-hand smoke are well known. The university and college have discussed becoming smoke-free for some time. With Canada’s legalization of recreational cannabis use on Wednesday, October 17, and the Government of Ontario’s introduction of Bill 36, the Cannabis Statute Law Amendment Act, 2018 (which allows cannabis smoking wherever tobacco is permitted), the university and the college made the decision to implement the interim policy while working to finalize the permanent policy in January 2019.

As of October 15, smoking and/or vaping of any type including tobacco, cannabis and shisha is prohibited anywhere on the shared north Oshawa campus, DC’s Whitby campus, the university’s downtown campus location and Windfields Farm property. This includes all students residences on campus and university-owned vehicles.

Faculty, staff and students working in off-campus facilities are required to follow the policies of the organizations or the municipal smoking by-laws. This includes Campus Corners, and the DC’s Pickering Learning Site and Employment Centres.

From now until January 2019 the university and DC will consult with our campus community to understand the impacts and move toward the development of a permanent policy. Please watch for information regarding these consultations in the coming weeks. 

Enforcement of this interim policy will be handled by a three-phase approach. Phase One takes effect on October 15 education and awareness of the policy, with the intent that we are a smoke-free campus and are seeking compliance. This phase will last until the consultations have taken place and a permanent policy is implemented. Phase Two and Phase Three will be implemented in the new year and it will be broadly communicated well in advance.

Each institution will work with students, staff and faculty on an individual basis who are prescribed cannabis for medical reasons. The traditional burning of substances that form a part of Indigenous culture and heritage are exempt from the university’s and college’s smoke-free policy. Additionally, smoking cessation supports will be available to students, staff and faculty.

Ultimately, our goal is to provide the healthiest, safest work and learning environments for our students, staff and faculty.

For more information, please visit the smoke-free webpage with detailed FAQs and read the university’s Interim Smoke-Free Campus Policy.

If you have questions, please email smoke-free@uoit.ca.

 

Sincerely,