Pressure is building on Ontario’s anti-smoking police to give Hollywood star Sean Penn a ticket after he was pictured lighting up at a news conference. "He should be charged," Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson said today at his own news conference to herald the first 100 days of the province’s tough new anti-smoking law. Almost 500 tickets have been issued to smokers and establishments but, so far, not to Penn or the hotel where he appeared during a news conference to promote his new movie, All The King’s Men, at the Toronto International Film Festival. Critics said it will appear the new Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which outlaws smoking in indoor public spaces, doesn’t apply to the rich and famous unless something is done. "It was such a flagrant breech of the law," said Michael Perly, executive director of the Ontario Campaign for Action on Tobacco. "It absolutely should be a target." Ontario’s chief medical officer of health said it’s up to hotels, bars and other establishments to tell patrons not to light up. If patrons persist, they should be ticketed, Dr. Sheela Basrur said. But it appears inspectors from the Toronto Public Health department have left Penn alone. Basrur said an investigation should begin immediately. Inspectors should also be more vigilant with major events like the film festival in future, Basrur said, noting tickets issued to individuals are typically for $105. Officials for the festival and Toronto public health could not immediately be reached for comment.
Toronto Star
I so hope they ticket his a$$! Can you imagine his political tirade if he does get the ticket?
