Penn's Lighting-Up Ignites Canada's Health Officials

Sept. 13, 2006— -- TORONTO (CP) - Hollywood bad boy Sean Penn should be charged with violating the province's smoking ban after he puffed his way through a news conference promoting his latest movie at the Toronto International Film Festival, Ontario Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson said Wednesday.

Photos of Penn enjoying a cigarette during the news conference have been splashed across local and national newspapers since the actor arrived in Toronto last week for the annual festival.

"No one is above the law, whether it's Sean Penn or someone at the local tavern," Watson said.

"Sean Penn's a great actor, but quite frankly . . .if he was smoking and in breach of the law, he could be charged, and he should be charged."

Watson also said public health inspectors could be doing a better job of enforcing the controversial ban at film festival venues, where Penn and other stars have often been seen with cigarettes in hand.

"If we know that there are continuous annual re-occurrences of problems like that, perhaps the Toronto Public Health Unit should be more proactive," he said.

"I certainly would hope that the Toronto International Film Festival would remind (movie stars), in a not-so-subtle fashion, that guests coming here shouldn't simply go out and (thumb) their nose at our laws."

Dr. Sheela Basrur, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, said it was would be up to organizers of events like the film festival and the managers of the host hotels to ensure their guests were aware of the smoking ban, and to make sure it was followed.

"Before we go out talking about enforcement officers and whose uniform is going to be on the scene, we need to first ensure that the managers of these events and facilities comply with their obligations under the law," Basrur said.

"(Penn's smoking) has certainly been an item of significant attention . . . and I expect Toronto Public Health to follow provincial protocols in investigating."

At one point during the news conference, which was convened to mark the first 100 days of the province's comprehensive new anti-smoking law, Watson asked Basrur if inspectors would be going after Penn.