Before buying my house in Milton I researched property tax rates and was delighted to learn that Milton’s property taxes were comparatively lower. However, that was before I learned how expensive water was here. Now I feel cheated.

Water here is damn expensive. And you know what else? What stings more is that they just went up 6.7%. That’s right, more than three times the rate of inflation.

The people we elected shouldn’t be doing media releases trying to save me $14 / year of property tax increase. They shouldn’t be spending $millions on the new town hall. They shouldn’t be giving themselves a salary boost. What they should be doing is working to reduce our water cost.

Seriously, I have three kids. I’ve put low-flow faucets and showerheads, I am not watering the grass, heck I have even significantly shortened my showers. But there’s only that much we can do. Ultimately we have to use water!

Halton Region is proposing a bylaw prohibiting smoking within nine metres of the entries and exits of most municipal buildings.

My first thought was "awesome." However, upon further thinking (over an hour actually), I am not sure if I like the suggestion.

Let me explain.

I hate the smell of second-hand smoke. I could never be a smoker because then I wouldn’t be able to stand myself. This is why I supported the indoor smoking ban, although I think it wouldn’t be out of line to give some room for exceptions. This current bylaw, however, may be going too far.

I am noticing this trend where we feel justified in taking civil liberties away from people in minority. In this case it’s smokers. But that doesn’t change a thing.

Banning smoking indoors has good health reasons. Second-hand smoke kills. That ban has public safety justification. This proposed ban does not meet that bar. It is only there because us non-smokers are inconvenienced by the smell as we enter or exit a building. We think it’s too much to put up with a habit – albeit an annoying even – of fellow citizens even for the few seconds it takes to pass by them.

I think it’s going too far. Don’t let people smoke indoors. But as long as cigarettes are legal, let them decide where to smoke them outdoors.