We are spending 9 days in these areas next month. We are used to the rather strict smoking regulations in the metropolitan New York area, where most restaurants,by law, do not allow smoking anymore. As non smokers we greatly appreciate this policy. Are there any similar rules in Canada?

Canada's a big country and some municipalities (such as Ottawa) have similar restrictions as the ones you mention in New York. As for Montreal, there are smoking sections and non-smoking sections in restaurants in Montreal, and I believe that holds to restaurants in Quebec province generally.

There is still plenty of smoking in Montreal restaurants. Same with Mt. Tremblant. While most restaurants do have non-smoking areas, the bar/cocktail lounges are full of ashtrays, and nearly always you must go thru them to get to your table in the dining room or to get to the restrooms. In the alternative, you could seek out places with sidewalk tables where you can avoid tobacco smoke and enjoy automobile fumes instead. I totally wonder about you folks obsessed with tobacco smoke who have no concerns whatsoever with motor vehicle exhaust fumes. Bet you drive an SUV? Bet you have central heat in your home? Do you REALLY think second hand smoke is more perilous to your health than what your personal vehicle(s) and your home/office heating system spews into the environment???

There are non-smoking sections in many restaurants in Montreal, but most of them are a joke - such as a 4' high iron grill work separating the two sections. Since you will be going in warm weather however, you will have many options to dine outside where smoke won't be much of a problem.

Also, keep in mind that Canadian cigarettes (which are of the British type) don't stink as much as American ones.

Mark - thanx for the advice but not the nastiness. Other than the proven long term effects of second hand smoke, the immediate effect for my family is to make me cough and to exacerbate my husband's dry eye condition. Logic does not say that because there are also bad effects from car exhaust we should not control smoking. One has nothing to do with the other. Truthfully I was not aware of problems caused by central heating. For the record - I wouldn't drive an SUV.

Donna Sue - I'm with you. The problem in the service industry is that smokers statistically are bigger spenders, drinkers and tippers than non-smokers so Restaurants, bars and casinos have been loath to appear unwelcoming to them. In Vancouver you can no longer smoke anywhere including casinos and guess what? Nobody's closed there doors. On the other hand it is unfair when one jurisdiction bans smoking and a neighbouring one allows it as in Ottawa/Hull.

Donna-Sue, let me be the first to apologize for the tone of Mark's post. It was unnecessary.<BR><BR>Onto the smoking topic. Although I don't live in Quebec, I live in Alberta, from what people tell me who travel there, it seems as though the smoking laws are a bit less rigid than in other parts of the country. So, I would suspect that although there are smoking sections, they are not seperated from the non-smoking in any way other than proximaty.<BR><BR>Where I live in Alberta, pubs or areas that are designated for those over 18, smoking is allowed. Restaurants or any area that serves a minor, must have smoking and/or non-smoking that are separated by glass and the non-smoking sections must have air exchangers is they are going to allow smoking in any area of the restaurant. Most restaurants just are non smoking and even the smokers don't mind. <BR><BR>BTW, I hope you have a great visit to Montreal. I have always wanted to visit there.

Smoking laws in Montreal and the rest of the province are quite lax. Smoking has always been a part of French culture, or maybe just many French people smoke. Anyways, at most bars in Montreal, there are NO non-smoking sections, but it should not be hard to find non-smoking sections in restaurants.

Earth to Donna-Sue (or maybe "Montreal to Donna-Sue"<BR><BR>Montrealers really don't GIVE A DAMN whether you like smoking or not.<BR><BR>"I'm used to the rather strict..." Big s**t!<BR><BR>Typical arrogant American. You don't like it, then don't go there.<BR><BR>They speak French alot, too. That'd scare you away, and GOOD.

Earth to BBB - representing the 75% of Canadians that don't smoke, (and that includes Montrealers) - do you know how bad you smell? You smell like sh**t brother, and the 80% of women who don't smoke think kissing you would be like licking an ashtray. Yuck!!!!

To bbb - Exactly how does an inquiry about smoking regulations in Quebec get me branded a "typical arrogant American"? My understanding was that this forum was here to provide help and act as an information exchange for travellers. You have done neither. Do you really have nothing better to do but insult people on these boards?

You tell 'm Donna-Sue! Fact is I just read that Montreal is about to institute real tough anti-smoking bylaws. And as for the myth that French are heavy smokers - the latest study show the heaviest smoking Province is Nova Scotia, (about 27% of over age 16), BC has the lowest rate, (about 20%), Ontario is next, (about 23%), and lo and behold Quebec has the third lowest rate just under 25%. The Canadian average by the way is just about the same as Quebec's which I guess means they are no more or less heavy smokers than the rest of the country.

Gary, I read the same study and was surprised by those results. I travel to Montreal fairly often on business and spent a lot of time there last fall. It seemed like a lot of people smoke, but it could just be that smoking was generally allowed in restaurants. I also noticed something else - co-workers who don't normally smoke here in Toronto would often smoke while in Montreal. I was out one night with a group of people and 4 guys who never smoke in Toronto all lit up. One said that if I met his wife, he didn't want me to tell her!

Susan, although I may myself now be guilty of perpetuating a stereotype I think Quebecers are much less judgemental of smokers unlike tight assed people like myself. But that doesn't mean they're stupid. They recognise just like the rest of the modern world that smoking is a suicidal habit and is losing it's 'cool' image.