How the Act Affects You
Child Care Services
Issued: May 2007
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The Basics
- The Smoke-Free Ontario Act came into force on May 31, 2006.
- The Act prohibits smoking in enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places in Ontario in order to protect workers and the public from the hazards of second-hand smoke.
Day Nurseries and Private Home Day Care
Smoking is prohibited in a day nursery licensed under the Day Nurseries Act. In addition, where private home day care is provided under the Day Nurseries Act, the entire premises must be smoke-free at all times whether children are present or not.
Private home day care is provided under the DNA in a private home under a licence issued by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to a private-home day care agency. A private home day care provides temporary care for reward or compensation for five children or fewer who are under ten years of age in a private residence other than the home of the parent/guardian of the child. Homes are supervised and monitored by the agency.
For further information, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services website address is www.children.gov.on.ca.
Responsibilities of Operators
- Ensure that everyone is aware that smoking is prohibited.
- Remove ashtrays and any object that serves as one.
- Ensure that no one smokes on the premises.
- Ensure that a person who does not comply does not remain on the premises.
- Post No Smoking signs at all entrances, exits, washrooms, and other appropriate locations. For information on acquiring required signage, please contact your local public health unit.
Enforcement
Local public health units will carry out inspections and investigate complaints in day nurseries and places where licensed private home day care is provided in order to enforce the Act.
Penalties
There is no maximum corporate fine listed in the SFOA for contravention of this section of the Act, meaning the fine amount would be left up to a justice of the peace, in accordance with general statutory requirements. An individual could be subject to a maximum fine of $5,000.
This fact sheet is intended as a quick reference only. For more information, please contact your local public health unit.
You may also obtain information by calling toll-free:
- INFOline 1-866-396-1760
- TTY 1-800-387-5559
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm
For more information on the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, please visit the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website: Ontario.ca/smokefree.
