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Letters
March 13, 2007
Letter to the Editor, Ottawa Citizen
I commend "green" building developers for their passion and desire to develop cleaner living spaces for Ottawa. I hope that at least one housing developer will designate, at minimum, one multi-unit dwelling smoke-free. This developer will unquestionably be considered a leader in the industry.
There is a huge, untapped market for smoke-free housing in Ottawa. Roughly 83 per cent of the people living in Ottawa do not smoke. A survey commissioned by the Ontario Tobacco-Free Network in 20062007 revealed that almost two million Ontarians reported that they were exposed to second-hand smoke in their apartments, and that 64 per cent of the respondents reported that they would like the choice of living in smoke-free buildings. Our council believes that the green option includes the elimination of drifting toxic gases and carcinogens. When a developer goes to the trouble to design environmentally friendly and healthy living spaces, the benefits of making the units smoke-free just makes sense.
Globe General Agencies has designated 70 of its high-rise apartment buildings as smoke-free. There are apartment buildings and condominiums in British Columbia and Kenora that have been designated as smoke-free. Housing developers in several U.S. states are leading the way on this important housing and health issue.
Landlords will reap tremendous cost savings by not allowing smoking on the property. The costs associated with cleaning, painting, replacing carpets, curtains, ceilings and flooring are considerably less in non-smoking residences. The cost of insurance is greatly reduced due to a decreased likelihood of cigarette-related fires. The Ontario Fire Marshal website reveals that in 2005, 30 per cent of preventable fires with loss were caused by lit smokers' materials.
We are confident that the demand for units would be beyond the developer's expectations and that all of the units will sell out before the ground is broken.
Ellen Holmes
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