In 2004, Moose Jaw was the first Saskatchewan city to ban smoking cigarettes in public buildings. 

12 years later, a pair of other smoking-related questions are hanging over the city.

One has to do with e-cigarettes. Last summer the city of Saskatoon voted to treat "vaping" just like regular cigarettes, and ban them from all public buildings.

Moose Jaw mayor Deb Higgins said it's something she's thought about, but it's not an issue that has been presented to her.

"I haven't received any complaints or concerns (over e-cigarettes) expressed," Higgins said. "I'll have to start making more inquiries to see if it's an issue that's been brought up with councillors or in other sectors I deal with..I'll have to look into it a little more."

Higgins did say the Canadian Cancer society has written to the city asking for a city-wide outdoor facility smoking ban.

"I have received a number of emails and information from the Cancer Society talking about banning smoking in public open areas..sports fields in particular," Higgins acknowledged. "But I haven't had any direct discussions with them, so it's something that's on the backburner."

Higgins says right now there are some individual groups who ban smoking at their outdoor activities, but no bylaw that makes it illegal.

She said she looks forward to discussing the smoking issues with her peers in the province at the upcoming Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association annual meeting.

"The mayor of Saskatoon (will be there), the mayor of Regina. So it's a good opportunity to ask questions...how they go about it, what kind of issues they're running into with e-cigarettes, and who has made the move to actually extend their bylaw with restrictions on smoking in (outdoor) areas."

This past October, Saskatoon's city council voted to extend smoking bans to city outdoor facilities, effective January 1. 

The SUMA convention runs January 31-February 3 in Regina.