City council defeats smoking bylaw changes, hookah lounges still no-go

A shisha or hookah lounge will not be allowed to open in Cold Lake any time soon.

Last Tuesday, City council defeated a motion to change the definitions of its smoking bylaw, which would have allowed the possibility of a hookah lounge establishment opening in Cold Lake.

The motion would’ve moved the amendments to the smoking bylaw past second reading, and altered the wording to no longer prohibit the use of waterpipes in a city business.

Mayor Craig Copeland told Lakeland Connect its up to each municipality and their discretion on whether to allow businesses like this.

“We had one applicant that wanted to do a hookah lounge in Cold Lake with the herbal teas and we had a look. The two business people are located in Clear Lake they wanted to invest in a Hookah Lounge…but in council, the bylaw was defeated,” said Copeland. 

The smoking of tobacco would still have been prohibited, only non-tobacco hookah blends would’ve been allowed under the bylaw.

The opportunity for community feedback was presented at the council meeting before councillors went forward with second reading. No one spoke for or against the bylaw.

Councillors Chris Vining and Ryan Bailey both voiced concerns at the meeting about the precedent the change would make, whether it could lead to a trend of smoking lounges, or whether the city would have to beef up land-use bylaws to ensure safety for youth.

“There are reasons we don’t allow other smoking in public places and in establishments,” said Vining. 

Mayor Copeland and councillor Adele Richardson said it was an adult’s choice whether they wanted to go to an establishment like this.

“I do think there’s some value in moving this forward. Whether an establishment moves into the community or not, I think it’s multicultural to a lot of people and I think — I have been to some myself – I think it brings something different and something new to the community. I would be in support of moving this bylaw forward,” said Richardson. 

However, second reading did not pass and the changes to the bylaw will not go ahead.