A Lower Mainland city could become the first Canadian municipality to ban the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products, if one councillor gets his way.

White Rock city councillor Matt Todd says stores should either be banned from selling tobacco or be required to buy a special licence.

Smokers in White Rock could be forced to buy their cigarettes elsewhere if a city councillor has his way.
(CBC)

"If we're really trying to provide healthy communities and healthy choices in the community, should we tolerate something that is not healthy, that is poisonous?"

Todd says he isn't discouraged by the fact that cigarettes are still legal, pointing out there are other legal products that are restricted by communities.

"A lot of cities restrict second-hand stores, massage parlours, all kinds of products. My question is, can we not use the same tools, the same mechanisms, to restrict the sale of tobacco?"

Corner store owner Khodaoyar Faiyaz says a ban would cripple his business, as cigarette sales make up 50 per cent of his sales.

Faiyaz says a ban would just drive smokers to other communities to buy their cigarettes.

"People will go to Surrey, Langley, Vancouver, Burnaby. From anywhere else, they'll be getting the cigarettes."

Most White Rock smokers that CBC News spoke to were opposed to the ban, but one smoker said a ban might just be enough to get him to quit.

"It would be an incentive for sure," said Roy Fonseca. "I've gone back many times, but it might be a scenario when I would quit smoking, which would be good."

Todd says it will be another week before he finds out whether a ban is possible. If it is, he says council wouldn't consider the issue until September.