Wolfville, N.S., is known for being quiet and picturesque, but soon it might also be known for having one of the toughest anti-smoking bylaws in North America.

The small town is set to become the first municipality in Canada to ban smoking in vehicles when a child is present.

Town councillors will vote on the proposed bylaw on Monday.

"The support from the town, I would suggest, is extremely strong," Mayor Bob Stead told CBC Newsworld on Sunday.

"We were the first municipal unit in the province to go smoke-free in indoor public places, so this is essentially a follow-up to what we did several years ago on that issue."

Stead said there was widespread support for the ban at a public meeting held Nov. 5.

Critics have argued that a bylaw further restricting what people can do in their own vehicles is intrusive, but Stead said council thinks it's "very important" to provide an environment in which children under 18 can be protected and safe from health risks.

He said education, not enforcement, will be the primary focus of the proposed bylaw. It won't be enforced until it takes effect next June. In the meantime, the town will try to educate people on the dangers of second-hand smoke in vehicles.

Wolfville has a population of about 3,600.

Stead said if people really want to light up while transporting children, there's nothing to stop them from leaving town.

"They can probably do that by driving a couple of kilometres."