Engaging Landlords, Builders & Managers in the Invasive Second-Hand Smoke Debate

1. Engaging Landlords, Builders & Managers in the Invasive Second-Hand Smoke Debate 5th National Conference on Tobacco or Health “Smoke Free: A World of Difference” Monday, October 1,2007 Edmonton, Alberta

2. Council for a Tobacco-Free Toronto • CTFT is: • A citywide coalition of community members working to prevent and reduce tobacco use and advocate for a smoke-free society • Funded by and a member of the Ontario Tobacco-Free Network (OTN) • A member of the Toronto Tobacco Control Area Network (TCAN)

3. Some Past CTFT Activities

4. Scope of the Problem • Canadians spend a large portion of their time indoors at home • Nearly ½ of Ontarians in multi-unit dwellings experience second-hand smoke invading their home(Ipsos Reid, 2007) • Population of Toronto: 2,503,281 (2006) • 950,000 Household Dwellings • 1/3 to ½ of Torontonians rent (Census 2001) • Condominium ownership in high-rise structures is dramatically growing in Toronto

5. Current Legislation • To date, provincial and municipal legislation eliminating exposure to second-hand smoke has targeted other locations • schools, workplaces, places of entertainment and public places • Little attention has been paid to exposure at home

6. The Challenge • Addressing the problem of invasive second-hand smoke without legislation • Collaborating to createawareness • Collaborating to createchoices • Collaborating to createsolutions

7. Coming up with a Plan • To deliver the message: “Protect yourself and your family from invasive second-hand smoke” • Create social marketing messages • Inform people of their rights and obligations • Suggest strategies, options and resources • Engage the services of a consulting firm

8. The Strategy • Focus on 2 audiences Primary Audience - builders, owners, landlords and managers of multi-unit dwellings • Inform of their rights • Clear up myths and misconceptions • Identify benefits and advantages • Offer resources and support Secondary Audience - tenants, condo owners, and their organizations • Inform of their rights • Educate about the health risks • Offer resources and support

9. The Strategy – Primary Audience • Builders, Owners, Landlords and Managers of multi-unit dwellings • Largely unaware of the issue • Main concern is loss of market by narrowing the range of prospective tenants/buyers. • Unaware of their legal rights • Hold myths and misconceptions • Unaware of resources and support available

10. The Strategy – Primary Audience • Builders, Owners, Landlords and Managers of multi-unit dwellings • Interested in hearing more • Interested in working cooperatively with health community • Interested in meeting the needs and demands of renters and buyers

11. The Strategy – Phase 1 cont’d • Builders, Owners, Landlords and Managers of multi-unit dwellings • Directly • engage them in friendly interaction through their own associations. • Co-operatively • inform them through their own credible media

12. The Strategy – Phase 1 cont’d • Builders, Owners, Landlords and Managers of multi-unit dwellings • Contracted consultant services to: • Build relationships with initial Builders, Owners, Landlords and Managers contacts • Develop media (articles, surveys, quizzes, websites, pamphlets, etc) cooperatively with Builders, Owners, Landlords and Managers

13. The Strategy – Phase 1 cont’d • Builders, Owners, Landlords and Managers of multi-unit dwellings • Relationship development with several organizations • Information materials developed and distributed to contacts and shared with their membership • “What’s all the fuss about second-hand cigarette smoke?” Quiz • “The Business Case for Going Smoke-Free”

14. Business Case Facts • It is legal to totally ban smoking in a building • A smoking ban is not a human-rights issue • Ventilation systems do not eliminate second-hand smoke • Multi-unit residences have gone smoke-free with real marketing success • Going smoke-free saves money • There is a large and growing market for smoke-free residences

15. The Strategy – Secondary Audience • Tenants, Condo Owners, and their Organizations • Largely silent on the issue (suffering in silence) • Main concern is loss of housing • Unaware of their legal rights • Myths and misconceptions • Unaware of resources and support available

16. The Strategy – Secondary Audience • Tenants, Condo Owners, and their Organizations • Much of the available information is aimed at tenants and tenant rights • Tenant organizations focused on different priorities – concerns about evictions • Initial contacts with representing organizations indicate • Less interest in hearing more • Less interest in working cooperatively with health community

17. The Strategy – Secondary Audience • Educating and Engaging interested tenantsby distributing the pamphlet “Concerned about Tobacco Smoke Drifting into Your Apartment or Condominium?” • Health Agencies • Health Units in other areas of the province (Durham, Peterborough, etc) • Toronto “Y” locations • Individuals who request single or multiple copies • Other venues for us to consider ?

18. Next Steps • Builders, Owners, Landlords and Managers of multi-unit dwellings • Website and links are planned • Media articles and displays are planned • Maintain ongoing contact • Tenants, Condo Owners, and their Organizations • Continue to distribute pamphlets • Toronto Community Health Centres • Collaborate with other Local Tobacco Councils

19. What Can You Do? • Get involved & build momentum • Join the National Coalition http://www.smokefreehousing.ca/ • Create demand by asking for smoke-free housing • Direct complaints to tenant and condo associations in order to get the issue on their radar • Use or contribute to further development of the Business Case

20. Thank You Judy Myrvold, Chair Council for a Tobacco-Free Toronto Email: ctft@rogers.com http://www.smokefreehousing.ca/