The Montreal Gazette reports  that a ban on smoking in public places that the Quebec government plans to impose in January could get rid of a part of Arab culture in Montreal. Cigarettes are not the issue here, though, it's the fact that shisha are included in the ban. The shisha is variously known as a hookah, nargile, hubbly bubbly, or water pipe. It has been a standard smoking utensil in the Middle East for centuries, originating in Turkey more than 500 years ago. Shishas are common in the homes and cafes of Montreal's large Arab community, either as a display or for smoking.