New Campaign Launched Today Encouraging Smoke-Free Homes
Written by admin, December 4, 2012
December 4, 2012 – Local tenants and landlords seeking relief from drifting smoke between rental units now have allies and tools to help them make their building completely smoke-free.
The Peterborough Public Health, together with the local chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society, launched a new campaign today that informs landlords and tenants of their abilities to enact smoke-free clauses within their leases.
“This is the season when Public Health receives more complaints from renters about drifting smoke from neighbouring units, something we take very seriously because we know there is no safe, acceptable level of exposure to tobacco smoke,” said Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, Medical Officer of Health. “Introducing no smoking policies is a win-win for both tenants and landlords; producing cleaner indoor air for all and a healthier bottom line for owners and managers in terms of less cleaning and operational costs.”
Dr. Salvaterra noted with approximately 15,000 multi-unit dwellings in the city and county combined, this initiative has the potential to benefit thousands of local residents. People interested in creating smoke-free policies for their rental buildings can simply contact Public Health for a personal consultation on the process, sample leases, policies, and other resources to help them. In the last few years, many Peterborough landlords have successfully enacted smoke-free policies.
“The Canadian Cancer Society is to proud to be partnering with the Peterborough County-City Health unit in support of the Smoke-Free Homes campaign,” said Nancy Sinopoli, Community Services Coordinator, Canadian Cancer Society, Peterborough & District Unit. “We are concerned about the issue of second-hand smoke in multi-unit dwellings because 4.5 million Ontarians live in apartments, condos or co-ops. Recently, we commissioned an Ipsos Reid poll that showed one-third of these people are being involuntarily exposed to second-hand smoke in their homes. Landlords should be able to provide smoke-free living options so that people can choose to protect their own health at home.”
The Smoke-Free Rental Homes campaign hopes to raise awareness about the local supports available through transit ads on city buses, online banner ads on Kijiji, and on Public Health’s website www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.
People in multi-unit dwellings can become exposed to second-hand smoke in their homes through:
- shared ventilation and heating systems ;
- cracks and gaps around sinks, countertops, windows, doors, floors, walls or dropped ceilings ; and
- electrical outlets, cable or phone jacks, or ceiling fixtures.
For further information, visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca and click on the Smoke Free Homes page under “My Home & Environment”, or go to www.smokefreehousingon.ca.
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For further information, please contact:
Jane Hoffmeyer
Tobacco Use Prevention Program
(705) 743-1000, ext. 332