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West Van council has voted in favour of introducing stricter regulations on top of the provincial government’s 2008 outdoor smoking laws, extending bans to patios, parks, playgrounds and athletic fields, including outdoor skateboard parks.

The district also further extended B.C.’s three- metre rule to six metres for smoking next to building entrances or air ducts.

People guilty of breaking the new regulations could face a fine up to $10,000.

“It will make dining on the side walks of West Vancouver much more enjoyable,” Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones said.

In a letter to council, Canadian Cancer Society community action coordinator Stacey Berisavac congratulated the district in taking “this step to protect residents and visitors from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.”

Its a move that will be taken by all 2010 Olympic and Paralympic host sites, she wrote.

The city and district of North Vancouver are looking to introduce a similar bylaw.

In addition, last month the City of North Vancouver council asked its staff to look into the possibility of banning smoking in multi-unit dwellings.

The decision followed a presentation by resident Sean Soper, who argued for the ban due to health concerns and fire hazard.

While Soper acknowledged that a smoking ban can be implemented by an individual building, he claimed it is a difficult process particularly if a strata is involved.

“It’s a matter of principle, I don’t think people in the city should be exposed to second-hand smoke,” Soper said. “I think the city should try to keep citizens away from known hazards.”

At the time Mayor Darrell Mussatto said staff have been asked to look into whether it would be legal for the city to enact such a bylaw and what options it has.

“Once we know what our legalities are we can have the discussion about what we can do about this,” Mussatto said.