Smoking enforcer retires

CAROL GOODWIN

WATERLOO REGION (Mar 6, 2003)

Known for staying cool through hot public health issues, Brian Hatton, Waterloo Region's director of environmental health, is retiring.

Hatton, 58, announced yesterday he was retiring after 37 years in public health, 16 of them here in the region. He moved here from the Sudbury district health unit in 1987.

"It's time for a change, a new outlook on life. I'm keeping my options open, but for now, golfing, curling and gardening will be my focus," Hatton said. His last day is May 31.

Hatton has been involved in several public health crises in the region, including the Uniroyal Chemical contamination of Elmira's water and the cooked cheese food-borne illness outbreak from local farmers' markets. But the biggest was the region's ground-breaking smoking bylaw.

The law, which bans smoking in all publicly accessible places, was researched, subjected to extensive public consultation and scrupulously meshed with tobacco control legislation within the Municipal Act.

It was phased in over four years, coming into full effect on Jan. 1, 2000.

Yet, there was an unprecedented outcry -- mainly from bar and billiard-hall owners, bingo hall operators and citizens declaring their right to smoke where they liked. There were two court challenges; both failed.

Through it all, Hatton remained cool; standing up as the region's chief witness in court and supporting his bylaw officers when they were subjected to profanity, spitting and even physical abuse trying to enforce the bylaw.

He was not the architect of the bylaw, but he made it work. He takes quiet pride in the outcome.

"The smoking bylaw was certainly one of the most public and most stressful issues, which had far-reaching implications," he said.

Other jurisdictions -- planning or implementing their own smoking bans -- started asking his advice. Hatton was invited to address municipalities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, plus 35 Ontario municipalities.

"We made it (the law) work. There was a high compliance rate in a very short time. We made a community bylaw that could be enforced, and we enforced it . . . Often, the public does not take bylaws seriously. (On this) the public knew we were serious," he said.

"Our philosophy was not to be heavy-handed, but seek voluntary compliance. We now have almost 100 per cent compliance."

Hatton credits his staff of 55, many of whom have to be deployed to other departments in a public health crisis.

"They are a talented group of multi-disciplinary people. They are the reason we are one of the most respected environmental health departments in the province. The Ministry of Health often requests our staff to sit on panels."

His boss, Dr. Liana Nolan, the region's medical officer of health, said, "Working with Brian has always been a pleasure. Brian has always had the health of the community at heart."

cgoodwin@therecord.com