Liberal back bencher, Dennis MacKay, has spoken out in favor of tobacco, but no one in the Campbell government has stood up and spoken out for the health and safety of hospitality workers. Where are the health ministers?

When Graham Bruce, minister responsible for the WCB, announced in question period that he has instructed the WCB to postpone its regulation to protect workers from second hand smoke, he also said that he is appointing a committee to come up with a different solution. Rather than a $1 no smoking sign, Bruce and other friends of the tobacco industry appear to have rigged a process to recommend air fans. Air fans won't eliminate the risk for hospitality workers. Just watch when a customer blows smoke across the table and into the face of a blackjack dealer, a server or any other victim.

In their July 30th fiscal update a note was included implying that casino revenues could be negatively affected by the WCB smoking ban. Bruce made it clear in his remarks that he was very concerned about a smoking ban affecting the revenues of some business operators and little concerned about the workers.

Even the BC Liberals would probably have trouble saying that hard hats and safety boots are required on construction sites in Vancouver but not in Fort St. John even though that equipment costs the same in both places. So why would they think that the hospitality worker in Fort St. John should be exposed to cancer causing smoke while the worker in Vancouver is protected?

It could be that the Liberal caucus is caving in to the lobbyists from the employer side of the hospitality sector. Some believe that lobby is just a front for the tobacco industry. Others suspect that big tobacco has gotten directly to the government through its lobbyists. One thing is clear. No one from the government benches is speaking out publicly in defense of the victims of second hand smoke.