25-Aug-06. Under the ‘B’: Burned. Edmonton Sun, 7.

Figures from the first full year of Edmonton’s smoking ban which began on July 1, 2005 indicate that charitable proceeds from these events declined by $6.8-million or 53 per cent. During the past year, bingo profits in the rest of Alberta – where smoking is generally permitted – dropped one per cent. City councilor Michael Phair said the decline in bingo attendance indicates that the province should consider new ways to fund charitable groups.