The president of Doctors Nova Scotia says he's disappointed a non-smoking bylaw won't be coming to Antigonish.

John Chiasson, a family doctor in the town, had endorsed the proposed bylaw that would have banned smoking along the entire stretch of Main Street; a motion on the bill wasn't seconded, and it died at a town council meeting Wednesday.

Chiasson tells The Hawk the positive side is the process did encourage change.

"I think, in time, the fact that we brought this to the public's attention, it is in its own way a disincentive to smoking," he says. "It encourages people to find the right path to good health and good living."

Chiasson says he feels the process helped bring the issue of smoking on public streets to light.

"In my perspective, smoking is harmful, to not only those who do smoke, but those who don't smoke who are exposed to it," he says, "Usually setting public policy encourages behavioural modification in the community- it is courageous and a role public officials take seriously."

Chiasson says he'll continue his work to advocate against smoking.

He says a lot of people personally thanked him for endorsing the bylaw, and speaking out against smoking.

Chiasson says he thinks councillors will address the issue again in the future.

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