Round 1 in the smoking battle goes to bar and restaurant owners.
Bernd Richard is the Kenora-based lawyer that is representing 17 businesses in the Kenora-Rainy River District.
Richard says the Health Services Appeal and Review Board has decided that those businesses will be able to allow smoking in their premises until the next hearing in late March.
Richard adds the stay applies to those businesses that made an application but admits it will be very difficult for the Northwestern Health Unit to enforce its smoking ban on others.