Thunder Bay housing no-smoking policy will affect new tenants

Smokers who live in some social housing in Thunder Bay will have to butt out, or light up outside.

The Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board is instituting a no-smoking policy in all of its units, starting Sept. 1.

The chief administrative officer for the board said the new policy is about protecting the rights of non-smokers.

"The bigger concern is the effect on the other tenants, the non-smokers," Bill Bradica said.

"There's obviously big concern about effects of second-hand smoke."

The policy will only apply to new tenants or those moving to different units.

"We're not saying people have to quit — and we are exempting existing tenants within their unit — but it is really looking at the rights of non-smokers."

Bradica said enforcement of the no smoking policy will be driven by complaints, observations of staff on site, and annual inspections.