| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 12:02:42 PM | As an ex-smoker, 13 yrs now... I doubt that the government can actually enforce a law like this unless they make smoking illegal. If the option of living in a smoke free bldg was offered to me, I would take it. But I don't expect everyone to live by my values. I chose not to spend significant amounts of time in the homes of those who smoke. My choice.
Smoking is not illegal, and inside even a rented apartment, we should be free to pursue our lives with direction from the government!! | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 12:24:10 PM | | smoke free apartments, thats madness, thats non smokers going to far, i think non smokers are the ones who should butt out not the smokers.....whats next inside homes next | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 12:25:45 PM | I think it's ridiculous. It isn't illegal to smoke -- and the government takes in so much revenue from tobacco taxes that they will *never* make smoking illegal. If the owner of an apartment building wishes to classify his building as "non-smoking", that's fine, but good luck trying to enforce it.
Until the government bans smoking outright, and provides quit-smoking programs for free to those who wish to quit, dictating whether people can smoke in their own homes is going too far. | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 1:06:27 PM | There is a POLL there.. but no backing materials.. if this was actually brought up by the Minister of health, i would think it would probably get more attention then "Minister of health wants mercury levels lowered in fish" which is the top "health" news story out of that office.
There is also nothing about it on the MOH website.. me thinks this m ountain is made out of molehills. | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 1:21:32 PM | Lets be real here ,everything the goverment wants to change is always done with polls and debates first .At the beginning of the anti-smoking brigades quest to have smoking stopped in puplic places began with said polls and said debates .
bottom line is the goverment always says we want to debate things but the bottom line is if they want to change something they will and they care not about what the debaters say .for example so many bar and restuarnt owners came out against the ban in there establishments and wanted a section of them to be smoke free and a section for smokers as they felt it would hurt there business ,did the govermwent care of course not .That is the problem nowadays the goverment will do as they choose and we all like it or lump it period . | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 2:23:56 PM | Exactly.... our only option is to not vote for those who changed things in the next elections.
None of us need the government in our private lives telling us how to live. Personally I think the government interfers too much as it is. | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 2:35:50 PM |
What is next - you will not be allowed to have sex in your apartment unless you are married?
Nooooo! That would be a tragedy.. !
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 2:38:04 PM | Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't hotels have the freedom to rent you a smoking or non-smoking room? Why should a landlord not have the same freedom? In the case of a hotel, it is for the benefit of the next (non-smoking) guest to not have the smell of smoke permeating the room. Could the same argument be made of an apartment? Can something like this not already be made contractual? But as you have all mentioned... who would enforce it?
Cigarettes, like cars, are legal. But you can't just drive your car anywhere. You must stay on the road and follow the rules. How fast would it take for your license to be revoked if you started driving on the sidewalk or someone's front lawn? The same goes with smoking. They outlawed smoking in bars because second hand smoke affects the staff of that establishment. Should a worker be allowed to waive their rights to a smoke free work place? Maybe. How many workers would risk their health for the sake of a good wage? (I hear smokers give bigger tips. lol)
While I agree that smoking should be completely banned once and for all, as many of you have mentioned, the government needs the revenue. As smokers die off or quit, they up the taxes to make up the deficit. Eventually one of two things will happen; smokes will be too expensive for people to afford and smoking will fade away, or, all the smokers will slowly die off to the point that the cigarette industry will go bankrupt. Either way suits me just fine. In the end, the government just said no to smoking rooms in bars because they wanted to protect those that were too weak of mind/willpower to make the right choice for themselves.
But I digress. For the government to legislate what you legally do behind the closed doors of your own 'home' (not read owned house) is ridiculous. On the other hand, if there is enough scientific evidence, they could argue that smoking is a form of long-term suicide. lol
Mojo
Smoker for 27 years. (with a couple years off here and there) | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 2:43:46 PM | i am a smoker,,,yup i am...
but i also respect non smokers too...as the people i hang with ,the non smokers respect us smokers...
i think if u want to smoke in ur place,,go ahead.... | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 4:05:25 PM | It isn't the government that's talking about this ... it's the Media , and the Anti Smoking Nazi Lobbyists who are pushing the government with their stretched out paranoias . The anti smoking lobby doesn't give a crap about health ... the lobbyists are leaches feeding off the anti-smokers who don't like the smell . They only "use" the health issue
because they can't use the "smell" issue . If smokes didn't smell , they wouldn't be banned anywhere , and those who are employed as antismoking lobbyists would have to find another job. Maybe global warming activists ? lol
Bye the way ..if I move into a new apartment ..I expect it to be freshly painted and thoroughly cleaned before I move in ... regardless of smoking .
My wife and I both smoked in the house while our kids were growing up . We smoked in the car as well, with the windows cracked down . My kids were NEVER sick , aside from the normal cold flu bugs . Our neighbours 3 blocks over , were totally non smokers .. they had 3 kids ... they "all" have asthma !!!! WTF ???? So much for that smoking connection ! Like I said .. If they didn't "smell" there wouldn't be any discussion about this " manufactured" paranoia.  | |
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.Lisa
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Joined: 1/13/2007
Msg: 37 | |
| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 4:28:26 PM | | i don't care if in their home, but not in the hallways and elevators thats gross, i got a kid standing in em. i was a smoker for 10 yrs and took it outside for my son and NEVER smoked inside of anywhere | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 4:50:45 PM | It is already illegal to smoke in the hallways, stairwells, elevators, and common areas of apartments under the Smoke Free Ontario Act...I have no problem issuing a ticket or a summons for smoking in places like that :)
At this time, it is not illegal to smoke in your own apartment, it will be interesting to see if the government passes a law providing for some smoke-free units, and any constitutional issues that go with that... | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 5:10:32 PM | | I have a request for the powers that be , who have the ability to create a health issue out of nothing . PLeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese ... do something about Curry fumes ! whaaaaaaaaaa. If ANYTHING should be banned from an apartment building it's gotta be curry fumes ! | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 5:14:18 PM | One of the problems with apartment living is that you have to be "good neighbours" moreso than if you lived in a house, because your personal space is so close to others'. Noise, cooking and smoking are readily "shared", which isn't a great thing.
Instead of banning smoking, perhaps apartment and condo builders should consider better air filtration so that smoke doesn't waft between apartments as readily. Just like cooking smells, and noises! | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 5:18:26 PM | Brash;
You originally said you saw this on TV on the news last night.. now when it is pointed out that it was a poll on a website with no backgrounders it changes to "Well thats how the gov't starts these things"?
I don't smoke around my kids, or around other non-smokers unless they chose to come near me. I stand away from entrances to buildings, away from parks/playgrounds, and away from other people all together.
I realise it is MY habit, not yours and respect it.
To bad so many people without my habit, have the equally annoying habit of getting into other people business. | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 5:41:45 PM | http://ottawasun.ca/News/OttawaAndRegion/2007/03/28/3852602-sun.html
The issue of smoke-free dwellings has been raised by the Ontario Tobacco-Free Network, with support from the Non-Smokers Rights Association.
They're encouraging builders and building owners to consider building/establishing smoke-free apartments building, and letting owners know that according to statistics, there would be no economic repercussions to such an initiative.
While the Ontario government says it would be pleased to see such a movement take life, it also readily admits that it would be extremely difficult for the provincial government to enforce a ban on smoking in private homes.
However.....there is nothing to stop owners from designating their properties as smoke-free, and making it a condition of tenancy. Break the condition, and the owner has the legal right to evict.
Its being done now - there are already some smoke-free apartment buildings (small unit buildings) in Ottawa, private home owners frequently include non-smoking as a condition of rental, and its quite common to see sub-let advertisements include non-smoking.
The issue, according to earlier articles, is the filtration of second-hand smoke from one Unit to the other through electrical outlets, doorways, windows, and often through cracks/spaces in poorly built structures.
Of course, I suppose an alternative might be to insist that builders/owners strive for high quality constructions - to stop second-hand smoke, neighbour noises, smells, and in some cases, bugs.
Naw, its easier to just go after the smokers. | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 6:04:29 PM | | I would be thrilled if somehow the government could enforce a law like this. I have my neighbor belows' second hand smoke pumping into my apartment all the time and I have to move because it's nauseating. Is that fair to me? | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 6:12:10 PM | Given the choice between freedom to smoke, and "freedom to live without fear of having my apartment burnt out because some inconsiderate smoker torched their own apartment and as a result mine was destroyed, too" ... I'd prefer not to live in fear.
Thus, perhaps a hybrid version/solution would be for this legislation to put some teeth into the ability of a landlord to rent only to non-smokers. Thus, the "real choice" would become that of supply and demand.
Personally, I can't stand it when somebody else's smoke blows into my place - that's simply rude (and, yes - I realise the lunatic fringe will come up with some oh-so-witty retort to the effect that "meat is murder, and BBQ'ing is being an accessory after the fact" ... sheesh - if the animal's already dead, it'd be a waste to let their life have been in vain ... better than we honour the animal's sacrifice by "becoming one with them" ... and, no - that wasn't a Highlander joke, thanks all the same ...) $0.02 | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 6:13:06 PM | | I live in an apartment building and I use to be able to smell others smoke in my apartment...yes I do not smoke.......but I use to....what I have done is sealed the cracks around my door better. Condos are usually built with Make-up Air systems.....which pressurize the hallways.....inturn keeping odours such as smoke, cooking and the like in individual units.......rental units....unless the upper scale expensive ones....tend to not have this type of system.....since it is expensive......since I have sealed the door...I don't smell anything....and the few minutes I am in the hallway to get out of the building....doesn't bother me.....I don't feel the government has the right to dictate what we do in our own homes....if it isn't illegal......period!!!! | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 6:13:37 PM | | No, its not fair to you. But how is it getting into your apartment? Is it filtering in because the building is poorly constructed? If so, then you must also be terribly annoyed by the cooking fumes and noises of your neighbours as well? | |
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| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 7:07:31 PM | hmm...
but when you "rent"...you don't "own"....right? If I owned a building, I would prefer to rent to non-smokers....no nicotine stains to deal with and that awful smell....ugh...
I find it hard to believe there are people who still smoke inside...or in thier cars...with children present...yucky....Maybe there should be a "smokers deposit" to have the unit cleaned/painted ec. if the smokers move out....
In my building, sometimes the hallways stink from cigarette smoke, and sometimes I do have to close my bedroom window if people are out smoking on thier balconies...a smoke-free builing would be nice AND a great selling point for landlords...hmmm...getting ideas here.....
I think the law would be more for evicting tennants who smoke if enough people complain about the stench....
Maybe...if you still want to smoke indoors...you will have to buy your home... | |
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YLAM
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Joined: 12/20/2006
Msg: 50 | |
| Ontario Apartments Smoke Free !!!!!
Posted: 3/28/2007 7:27:46 PM | okay people
COMMON SENSE
it's something that we should have.
we should know better then to smoke in a car with kids. it can make them sick and can cause them to turn into smokers when they grow up if their parents expose them to smoking.
when you could still smoke in bars... YOU made the choice to go there noone forced you through those doors did they?
when you go to a smokers house you choose to go there so don't b!tch and wine, you're a guest, deal with it... if they're nice they won't do it infront of you but have some respect for them, it is their house.
i'm sure that IF a landlord decided to have a non smoking building then they would be charged with descrimonating against a smoker, where do you draw the line?
in short we all know that smoking is evil and it can/will kill us but in all honesty does anyone really think that it's going away any time soon....... i don't think so
and yes i just lit a smoke in my apartment, come over here and try to arrest me. maybe i should make it worthwhile and light up my bong instead? | |
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