Take a few minutes to look through the resources we have developed on smoke-free housing (listed below) and come back and visit our site again as we continue to add new materials. We also encourage you to visit the new national smoke-free housing website at www.smokefreehousing.ca, where you can find resources specific to B.C. and Ontario.

Second-hand smoke in multi-unit dwellings (apartments, condos, housing co-ops, townhouses, etc.) is an emerging public issue. Now that most Canadians are protected in public places and workplaces, demand for other smoke-free environments is on the rise. According to two 2006 surveys, 64% of Ontarians living in multi-unit dwellings (MUDs) would likely choose a smoke-free building over one where smoking is permitted. Unfortunately, such choices are extremely limited as the housing sector has been slow in responding to the increasing public demand for smoke-free accommodation. Indeed, the Non-Smokers’ Rights Association receives more calls on this issue from the general public than any other.

There are various ways that smoke infiltrates other people's private units. Indoor air studies show that, depending on the age and construction of a building, up to 65% of the air in a private residence can come from elsewhere in the building.

Second-hand smoke is more than a nuisance – it's a toxic mix of more than 4,000 chemicals. In 1992 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified SHS as a “Group A” carcinogen, a category reserved for the most dangerous compounds proven to cause cancer in humans. There is no known safe level of exposure. Two major reviews of the scientific evidence emphasize that long-term exposure to SHS substantially increases risk of heart disease and lung cancer in adults. Those with pre-existing health conditions like asthma, emphysema, angina or diabetes are particularly vulnerable to SHS. For children, exposure to SHS is a proven cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), as well as ear infections, asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis.

In light of the strong scientific evidence about the harmful effects of SHS on individuals’ health, the only way to fully protect tenants' health is to eliminate all indoor smoking in MUDs.

	February 5, 2010	Human Rights and No-Smoking Policies for Multi-Unit Dwellings
	January 29, 2010	Smoke-free housing case study - Artscape Non-Profit Homes Inc.
	January 29, 2010	Smoke-free housing case study - Collier Place Inc.
	January 29, 2010	Smoke-free housing case study - Right At Home Realty
	January 29, 2010	Smoke-free housing case study - Haliburton Community Housing Corporation
	January 29, 2010	Smoke-free housing case study - Northwestern Property Management Limited
	January 29, 2010	Smoke-free housing case study - Schlegel Seniors Villages/ Oakwood Retirement Communities
	January 29, 2010	Smoke-free housing case study - Finlandia Village
	January 29, 2010	Smoke-free housing case study - Vancity Enterprises
	January 29, 2010	Smoke-free housing case study - Greater Edmonton Foundation Housing for Seniors
	October 21, 2008	A Landlord's Guide to No-Smoking Policies in Ontario
	July 23, 2008	Can the Smell of Second-hand Smoke Constitute Damage?
	July 14, 2008	Tenant Survey Regarding No-Smoking Policies in Multi-Unit Housing
	March 28, 2008	Smoke-free Policies Make Good Dollars and Sense: The Business Case for Smoke-free Multi-unit Housing
	December 30, 2007	A Review of Second-hand Smoke Decisions Made by Adjudicators of Landlord and Tenant Boards
	May 28, 2007	Environmental Tobacco Smoke as a Breach of the Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
	February 28, 2007	Canadian Case Law on Drifting Second-hand Smoke in Multi-unit Dwellings
	December 8, 2006	When Neighbours Smoke
	February 15, 2006	Questions et réponses à l'intention des propriétaires et gestionnaires Article only available in french
	February 15, 2006	Question et réponses à l'intention des locataires et co-propriétaires d'immeuble Article only available in french