Canada's Indian and northern affairs minister plans to meet with First Nation leaders from Saskatchewan to discuss the province's new smoking ban.

The ban went into effect on January 1 and applies to virtually all public places. But the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations voted last month not to accept it, saying the province doesn't have jurisdiction on tribal lands.

Since then, the White Bear First Nation has proposed its own smoking ordinance that is not as extensive as the province's. Indian and northern affairs minister Andy Scott is debating whether to approve it.

Get the Story:
Smoking confounds Ottawa (Saskatchewan News Network 1/14)

Relevant Links:
Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations - http://www.fsin.com

Related Stories:
First Nation leaders vote against smoking ban (12/16)
Saskatchewan First Nations resist smoking ban (10/07)
Non-Indians want smoking ban for First Nations too (10/4)
Manitoba's smoking ban won't apply to First Nation (9/30)