Les Turner says his health is impacted by smoke in the Valleyview Towers 2 building. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Resident files claim

Valleyview Towers 2 tenant seeks compensation from impact of secondhand smoke

Apr 13, 2021 | 6:46 PM

A Valleyview Towers 2 resident has filed a claim for $30,000 with the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) against Battlefords Housing Authority related to conditions at the building in North Battleford.

Les Turner’s concern is about secondhand smoke. He alleges there is a no smoking policy in the building but it is not being enforced.

“Smoking is really bad for me, right,” he said. “I have COPD [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease] and I’m on oxygen. My lungs are getting worse, because of the smoke in this building. It’s supposed to be a smoke-free environment, and they are not stopping people from smoking.”

Turner said he was living in an apartment right above a designated smoking area in the building.

“I have an air conditioner because I need that for the heat, and it was sucking the smoke right into the suite,” he said, adding he was about four or five feet from the source of the smoke which was coming right in through his window.

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Turner has since moved across the hall but he says there is still a problem with cigarette smoke throughout the building.

The 70-year-old said when he moved into the building a little over two year ago he was not on oxygen.

Turner is asking for $30,000 in damages “because of all the oxygen that I have been using since I have been in here.”

He said he has complained to the housing authority numerous times about the problem but “it just fell on deaf ears.”

“All they say is: ‘We’ll look into it. We’ll check it out.’ This is as far as it goes,” he said.

The senior who uses a walker to get around alleges a loss of quality of life, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. He says there is also smoke in the hallways and in the laundry room he needs to use.

“If they quit the smoking I would be a lot better. I wouldn’t be using as much oxygen, I would just have a better life,” he said.

Turner said he would consider moving to another place but it’s his home. He has friends at the building, and he also has a storage unit he needs for his scooter.

Darryl Mills, a resident at the Towers, helped Turner prepare the application for his claim.

Mills mentioned he is aware of three more residents who plan to file separate challenges for complaints regarding conditions at Valleyview Towers, alleging a loss of what’s known as “quiet enjoyment.”

“This is not going away,” Mills said.

An Office of the Residential Tenancies Hearing is scheduled for May 17 but Turner is hoping to get an earlier date.

Saskatchewan Housing Corporation owns and manages the properties that are managed locally by the Battlefords Housing Authority.

An email statement to battlefordsNOW on behalf of Saskatchewan Housing Corporation said the conditions at Valleyview Towers are being addressed.

“Saskatchewan Housing Corporation is aware of the situation at ValleyView Towers in North Battleford,” the statement said. “The Battlefords Housing Authority is committed to addressing challenges and communicating with tenants while working to ensure all tenants are meeting their lease obligations.”

The Saskatchewan Housing Corporation stated “significant, long-term efforts have been made to address concerns” at ValleyView Towers, including one-on-one meetings with tenants, investigating concerns raised, as well as developing and implementing plans to improve the safety and culture of the building.

“Efforts are ongoing and we are confident that tenants and staff will continue working together to create a safe and positive environment,” the statement said.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW