Sean Penn’s indoor smoke causes problems in Canada

By Stone Martindale Sep 14, 2006, 1:08 GMT

TORONTO - Anti-Smoking advocates are fuming over Sean Penn’s indoor smoke during the Toronto Film Festival.

Actor Sean Penn may be charged with violating the province's smoking ban after he smoked his way through a news conference promoting his latest movie at the Toronto International Film Festival, Ontario Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson said Wednesday.

Photos of Penn enjoying a cigarette during the news conference have been published across local and national newspapers since the actor arrived in Toronto last week for the annual festival.

"No one is above the law, whether it's Sean Penn or someone at the local tavern, Sean Penn's a great actor, but quite frankly . . .if he was smoking and in breach of the law, he could be charged, and he should be charged." Said Watson.

Watson also said public health inspectors could be doing their jobs more diligently by actually enforcing the law at film festival venues, where Penn and other stars have often been seen with cigarettes.

"If we know that there are continuous annual re-occurrences of problems like that, perhaps the Toronto Public Health Unit should be more proactive," he said.

"I certainly would hope that the Toronto International Film Festival would remind (movie stars), in a not-so-subtle fashion, that guests coming here shouldn't simply go out and (thumb) their nose at our laws."

ABC News reports Dr. Sheela Basrur, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, saying it was would be up to organizers of events like the film festival and the managers of the host hotels to ensure their guests were aware of the smoking ban.

"Before we go out talking about enforcement officers and whose uniform is going to be on the scene, we need to first ensure that the managers of these events and facilities comply with their obligations under the law," Basrur said.

Joe Mihevc, a member of Toronto's board of health said Wednesday an investigation was underway, and that either Penn or the hotel could be charged.

"Super-stardom does not mean that you can side-step any laws or bylaws, and I think that's an important message to get out," Mihevc said.

About 300 people have been charged since Ontario's provincewide smoking ban went into effect in May. They were all assessed fines of $105, Watson said.