Ontario's Multi-Unit Dwellings And Second Hand Smoke

Toronto, ON - According to an Ipsos Reid survey conducted for The Ontario Tobacco-free Network (OTN), second-hand smoke infiltrates the multi-unit living spaces of almost half (46%,) of all multi-unit dwelling Ontarians from nearby access points, and a clear majority (64%) of the province's four million multi-unit dwellers would like the choice to live in smoke-free buildings.

These are the key findings of an Ipsos-Reid poll conducted in November, 2006 via an online Ontario sample of 1832 multi-unit adult dwellers in Ontario. With a sample of this size, results are accurate with 177 2.3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire Ontario multi-unit adult dwelling population been polled. These data were weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects the actual Ontario population according to Census data. The results reported in this Factum and in the public domain are from the second of two waves of research conducted on the subject among separate samples. The first wave with a series of benchmark findings for tracking purposes was conducted in March, 2006 and is included, for comparative purposes, in the accompanying PowerPoint presentation. These data were not combined or averaged as they were separate studies. OTN is a coalition of the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Division; the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario; and The Lung Association.

According to 2001 Statistics Canada data, multi-unit dwellings account for 35% of all residences in Ontario - representing more than four (4) million Ontarians.

The survey of a representative sample of Ontario's multi-unit dwellers revealed that:

• Almost half (46%) have had tobacco smoke odour enter their unit in the past 12 months from somewhere else in their building
• The tobacco smoke odour usually seeps in primarily via the hallways (47%), windows (41%), shared ventilation (21%) and air leaks (18%), and through bathroom or kitchen fans (13%)

Of Residents In Multi-Unit Dwellings Affected By Drifting Smoke (46%)...

• Of the 46% affected, seven in ten (70%--or 32% of all multi unit dwellers)--say it bothered them and of this group 14% either moved (4%) or considered moving (10%) as a result of the smoke intrusion (approximately 6% of all multi-unit dwellers either moved or considered moving because of drifting second hand smoke that bothered them)
• Of the 46% affected, 41% (or 19% of all multi unit dwellers) consider it a personal health hazard and 32% (or 15% of all multi unit dwellers) consider it an infringement upon their life and privacy
• Of the 46% affected, 27% (or 12% of all multi unit dwellers) made suggestions or grievances to their landlord or another outside agency about the smoke
• Of the 46% affected, 16% (or 7% of all multi unit dwellers) say that they or someone in their household suffered from a smoking-related illness or worsened condition--illnesses or conditions such as Asthma (68%), COPD (16%), Heart disease (6%) and Lung Cancer (6%)

Of Residents In All Multi-Unit Dwellings...

• Two thirds (64%) of all multi-unit dwellers would likely choose a unit in a smoke-free building over one where smoking is permitted.
• Six in ten (58%) of all multi-unit dwellers would prefer to live in a non-smoking building - 17% would insist upon this;
• Eighty-five percent believe that common areas of multi-unit dwellings are required by law to be smoke free - 70% are sure about this;
• Despite the Smoke-free Ontario Act, just half (53%) of all multi-unit dwellers say smoking is prohibited in hallways, the lobby/ common areas and the laundry room;
• Most (60%) multi-unit dwellers do not think laws enable landlords to require multi-unit dwellings to be smoke free;
• Six in ten (57%) of all multi-unit dwellers would support a smoking ban in their multi-unit dwelling similar to Winnipeg standards, and 40% would strongly support this measure;

A complete copy of the results in the form of a PowerPoint presentation accompanies this posted Factum.

For more information on this press release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
(416) 324-2900
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

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