Rights erosion seen in smoking driver ban

TORONTO, March 6 (UPI) -- Canadian opponents to a proposed Ontario ban of smoking while driving with children say obese people will be the next targets, the Toronto Star reported.

Wednesday, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty told reporters in Toronto he had changed his mind and now favors making it illegal for drivers to smoke with children under 16 in the vehicle.

Arminda Mota, president of MyChoice.ca, an advocacy group for smokers' rights, told the Star the ban should also extend to parents who smoke in their homes or use cell phones while driving children around or even parents who allow children to eat junk food.

"Obese people, watch out ... they're coming after you next. They're imposing their big nanny state all over the place," Mota said.

Nova Scotia was the first Canadian province to ban drivers smoking with children aboard in December but it's not yet being enforced, the Star said.

In the United States, Arkansas, California and Louisiana have enacted similar bans.