WINNIPEG — Smokers in Manitoba will soon have to search far and wide for places to light up after the government took another step Tuesday toward a sweeping provincewide smoking ban.

Healthy Living Minister Jim Rondeau introduced the Non-Smokers Health Protection Act in the legislature. The law, which would come into effect Oct. 1, would make Manitoba the first province to ban smoking in all public places and indoor workplaces under provincial jurisdiction.

While several other provinces have laws prohibiting smoking in public places, there are exceptions made for ventilated smoking rooms in bars and restaurants.

"The groundbreaking legislation is to make sure we protect workers and the public from second-hand smoke, and that's what this does," Rondeau told a news conference.

The bill mirrors the unanimous recommendations of an all-party legislature committee, which held public hearings last year.

Exceptions to the bill include areas under federal jurisdiction, such as airports, military bases, federal prisons, airports and native reserves.

The government's plan was welcomed by numerous health-care and anti-smoking groups.

However, those in the hospitality industry say such bans cost them millions of dollars a year in business.

"What it means for our industry is disaster," said Barry McKay, general manager of the Pub and Bar Coalition of Canada.

"What it also means is the health industry has gotten its propaganda across very well, and because they've all got white jackets on, the politicians have chosen to listen to them rather than the truth from our side."

McKay said he's frustrated by "outlandish" claims by health professionals that second-hand smoke is solely responsible for many health problems.

Other critics have questioned how such a ban could be enforced, but Rondeau said the government doesn't anticipate many problems with compliance. He said the government does not plan to immediately hire extra health and safety inspectors.

The City of Winnipeg banned smoking in all indoor public places last year. Several other municipalities have adopted similar measures.

At the provincial level there are no other complete bans.

Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia all have partial smoking bans that allow specially ventilated smoking rooms in bars and restaurants.

British Columbia's former NDP government had proposed a complete ban, but the effort was halted by both a court decision and a change in government.

The Saskatchewan government said last month it plans to ban smoking in all public places as early as next year. The province currently bans butts in public places to which children have access. Sixty per cent of bars and restaurants are smoke-free.

Ontario has said it will introduce legislation this year that would ban smoking in all public places and workplaces within three years.