Costly tobacco: Smoking at home reduces property values says Ontario survey

A recent survey of Ontario real estate agents in Ontario found that smoking in a home could lower the value of your property by up to 30 per cent. The survey was sponsored by Pfizer Canada and besides the obvious damage by staining walls and carpets, it can leave a smell that is very hard to eliminate. I remember having a client close a deal and noticed a smell of smoke when they entered the home on closing. I asked why they didn't notice the smell when they originally toured the home and they said fans were on with electric air fresheners plugged into the walls. That apparently masked the smell that day. It makes sense that a home with a smoky smell or strong odor will be harder to sell as it will deter most buyers. Landlords are permitted to include no smoking clauses in their leases. But they can only evict a tenant who smokes if they can prove the smoking has damaged the unit or is bothering the other tenants. Here’s a case in point. In December, 2006 John Davidson rented a furnished condominium on Scollard St., in Toronto where the lease contained a no-smoking clause. The owner, Chris Cebula, noticed the smell of smoke in the apartment almost immediately, but Davidson refused to stop smoking. The landlord put the condo unit up for sale but his agent said the smell of smoke was hurting his ability to sell it. The landlord submitted estimates to the board to eradicate the smell of smoke from the apartment. Including staining and painting all the walls, replacing and/or upholstering the furniture, box spring and mattress, linens, drapes and carpets the cost amounted to $8,900. The landlord also claimed an extra one month’s damage of $2,052, since it would take one month to do the renovations. In a decision dated February 25, 2008, Landlord and Tenant Board adjudicator Egya Sangmuah found that Davidson’s smoking did damage the unit and awarded full damages to Cebula. The Non-Smoker’s Rights Association published their own study demonstrating that the average costs for a landlord to clean an apartment is two to three times greater when it was occupied by a heavy smoker. They also quote statistics from Canadian Fire Marshals demonstrating that cigarettes, lighters and matches remain one of the top causes of residential fires. Similar statistics are found with resale cars where the prior owner was a heavy smoker and it is difficult to remove the smell from the upholstery. Smoke or pet odours, such as cat urine, can cause headaches when trying to sell a home. There are solutions and companies that can solve these issues. Restoration companies such as Winmar Disaster Restoration, Medallion Healthy Homes of Canada and Biosense Environmental offer solutions that can assist with these problems. The process involved is using concentrated ozone gas to get into all areas of the home, including the walls, to assist in cleaning out the smell, even when the home was occupied previously by heavy smokers. There are, of course, household products such as vinegar that you can use for minor problem odours or an over-the-counter product such as Nature’s Miracle, to remove pet odours. Buyers, be suspicious if you notice the fans going or electric air fresheners whenever visiting a home for the first time. Sellers, don’t try to cover up or hide odour issues that you know about. Get rid of any foul odour before putting your home for sale, to maximize your return. Source: http://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2013/05/19/costly_tobaccosmoking_reduce_property_values_says_ontario_survey.html

Ban tobacco in Maine entirely, or not at all

A bill to “simply outlaw tobacco altogether” would make more sense than piecemeal bans on smoking, Gov. Paul LePage said Monday as he vetoed a bill to outlaw smoking on public college campuses. “I firmly believe Maine people are responsible enough to make their own decisions concerning tobacco,” LePage wrote in his veto letter. “However, for those who oppose its use, they should bring a bill forward to simply outlaw tobacco altogether.” “Our various public colleges and universities can make their own decisions on whether or not to permit smoking on their campuses,” the governor wrote. And many already have. Five of the seven University of Maine System campuses are currently smoke-free, and smoke-free policies will take effect at the remaining two, the University of Maine at Machias and the University of Southern Maine, on Sept. 1 of this year and Jan. 1, 2014, respectively. In the Maine Community College System, one campus is currently smoke-free: Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield. A second campus, Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, will be smoke-free starting Jan. 1, 2014. The bill, LD 468, sponsored by independent Rep. Ben Chipman of Portland, passed the House and Senate without dissent earlier this month. The bill would have prohibited smoking, except for religious purposes, on all university and community college campuses and at Maine Maritime Academy starting Aug. 1, 2014. Chipman said by phone Monday that his intent was to establish a uniform smoking policy for all Maine state campuses. He said he encountered very little opposition to the bill, which passed without debate or roll-call votes in the House and Senate. The Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee voted 10-3 in favor of Chipman’s bill. “Now along comes the governor and he decides he wants to be the voice of smokers,” Chipman said. “I’ll reach out to his office and talk to him. I’m hoping the House and Senate can stand by the decision we made with almost no opposition to protect the health of people who should be able to live, learn and work without having to breathe secondhand smoke.” Last week, LePage issued a statement expressing his opposition to raising state tobacco taxes. The Legislature’s Taxation Committee last week voted unanimously to recommend against a bill that proposed raising the state tax on cigarettes from $2 to $3.50 per pack and against a separate bill that would have taxed other tobacco products, including cigars and chewing tobacco, at an equivalent rate to cigarettes. LePage also vetoed on Monday a bill that would order a state study related to providing rental subsidies to MaineCare recipients with intellectual disabilities. In his veto letter, LePage said it’s premature to conduct the study when DHHS is in the midst of consolidating and overhauling services for people with intellectual disabilities. He also objected to the fact that the study would increase the workload at DHHS. Noting that the bill originally would have required DHHS to allocate $200,000 for the study, LePage wrote, “Redrafting bills to reduce the workload and claim that it will be provided ‘within available resources’ does not change the fact that additional work requires additional resources. We can no longer simply pile more initiative up without recognizing they have costs.” Democrat Rep. Richard Farnsworth of Portland, LD 387’s sponsor, said the study would have provided information the state does not now possess. “Maine’s contribution to their room and board is shrinking while costs for their providers are rising.” he said. “Without examining this situation, we have no way of knowing whether these Mainers are getting the care they need and deserve or whether the state is using its dollars wisely.” Monday’s vetoes mark the seventh and eighth of this legislative session. The Legislature has sustained five of LePage’s vetoes, with consideration of an override of a sixth veto issued Friday likely to start in the House this week. It takes two-thirds majority votes in both the House and Senate to override a veto. Source:http://bangordailynews.com/2013/05/20/news/state/lepage-veto-ban-tobacco-in-maine-entirely-or-not-at-all/

Lázár accuses Philip Morris of creating anti-Fidesz scandal

Hungary’s national tobacco company has refused a Socialist lawmaker access to documents containing bids submitted for a recent tender. The company on Wednesday rejected Csaba Toth’s request to view the bids for tobacco concessions, arguing that even though the company is publicly owned, it is not a state agency and so does not have to disclose public information. Toth said he would appeal to the National Development Ministry. Parties of the opposition have sharply criticized the government for the tobacco tender, claiming that members of the ruling Fidesz party influenced the tender process. Legislation approved last September established a state monopoly on the retail sale of tobacco products from July 1, 2013. Meanwhile, Janos Lazar, head of the Prime Minister’s Office, said the recent scandal surrounding the national tender for tobacco concessions may have been fuelled by tobacco giant Philip Morris, a senior government official has said. Philip Morris’s interests were harmed by the revamp of tobacco trade in the country, Lazar said in an interview to the weekly Heti Valasz. The company first lobbied the European Commission before making an attempt to stop Hungarian legislation from changing rules on public information, and launched a political campaign to blacken the government, Lazar said in the interview, an excerpt of which the paper released to MTI on Wednesday. “They sent us a clear message that they would do everything in their capacity to prevent the new system from being introduced. With such a large market, spending a few hundred million forints on a PR campaign is no problem,” he said. Referring to allegations that concession winners had been selected according to instructions from the ruling Fidesz, Lazar insisted that 90 percent of the winners were not associated with the party. Heti Valasz will publish the full interview on Thursday. Source: http://www.politics.hu/20130509/socialist-mp-refused-access-to-tobacco-documents-lazar-accuses-phillip-morris-of-creating-anti-fidesz-scandal/

$2 per pack tobacco tax on fast track in California Legislature

A proposal to raise the tobacco tax by $2 per pack of cigarettes cleared its first two policy committees Wednesday, with Republicans unified in their opposition. Sen. Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) proposed the tax, which would move California's tobacco taxes from 33rd-highest in the nation to fourth. The $1.5 billion raised each year would help pay for medical care for tobacco-related diseases, anti-tobacco education and enforcement of tobacco-related laws. DeLeon said the state currently spends $3.1 billion on medical costs involving tobacco-related diseases and health impacts. “Our goal is to ensure that taxpayers don’t foot the bill related to any industry,” De Leon said. The state currently charges 87 cents in taxes on each pack of 20 cigarettes, with money going to healthcare programs, including an anti-smoking campaign. Supporters also hope the higher tax will discourage some people from smoking. The vote of the Senate Governance and Finance Committee was 4-2, with Republicans including Sen. Stephen Knight of Palmdale opposed. “Why wouldn’t we just obliterate smoking by raising it [the tax] $25?” Knight asked sarcastically. “Is it our job to tax people into a good decision?” SB 768 goes to the Senate Health Committee this afternoon so it can meet a looming deadline for committee action on bills. [Bill Dombrowski, president of the California Retailers Assn., opposed the measure, telling the health panel that the tax will cost jobs, promote black-market activity and hit the wallets of some people more than others. [“Raising taxes will unfairly burden low-income earners,” he told the Health Committee. [De Leon said the same goes for health. “What is truly regressive is the disproportionate impact smoking has on low-income and minority communities.” [Some supporters said the money can help with the expansion of MediCal, although De Leon said the bill does not yet address that issue.] Source: By Patrick McGreevy http://www.latimes.com/news/local/political/la-me-pc-tobacco-tax-20130508,0,7639018.story

Listen to Minnesotans: 66% support raising tobacco price $1.50 a pack

Of the many tax proposals currently under consideration by the Legislature, few enjoy support by a strong majority of Minnesotans, and few can have a significant health impact and save lives in our state. A new poll released by the Raise It for Health coalition shows that not only do a majority of Minnesotans support raising the tobacco tax, but 66 percent support raising it by $1.50 per pack. Who are these Minnesotans? They represent all walks of life – all ages, income levels and geographic areas of the state. They represent all political viewpoints, as well. Strong majorities of DFLers (68 percent), Republicans (65 percent) and Independents (62 percent) all indicate they support a $1.50 increase. Raising the price of tobacco is a proven method of encouraging adult smokers to quit and keeping our kids from starting to smoke. Fifteen years after Minnesota’s historic tobacco settlement, tobacco companies continue to find clever and creative ways to prey on our youth and commit them to a lifetime of addiction. The only group that benefits from cheap tobacco is the tobacco industry. Choose kids over industry interests This session, legislators have the chance to choose kids over tobacco-industry interests by raising the price of tobacco. Raising the price of tobacco products by $1.50 per pack would prevent 47,700 youth from becoming addicted adults, help 36,600 current smokers quit and save 27,700 Minnesotans from premature death. So far, Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders in both the House and Senate have taken significant strides toward achieving this goal. We commend them, and hope conferees will support the House proposal at $1.60 per pack versus the Senate’s position at 94 cents per pack. The poll shows Minnesotans support a large increase, and lawmakers should remember, the more cigarettes cost, the greater the benefits for the kids and adults of this state. Tobacco remains a huge problem in our state: 16 percent of Minnesotans smoke and 77,000 youth will use tobacco this year. If those statistics are not wholly convincing that we need a significant tobacco tax increase, the fact that a solid majority of Minnesotans support this measure should tip the scales. Lawmakers should ask themselves, on what other issue could public agreement like this be found? Make it significant It is clear that Minnesotans see benefits from reducing the state’s smoking prevalence. The more than 30 health and nonprofit organizations who are part of the Raise It for Health coalition know all too well tobacco’s devastating effects. Now it is lawmakers’ turn to help create healthier communities and citizens by passing a significant tobacco tax increase this session. Our legislators have an opportunity to be in step with Minnesotans by raising the price of tobacco and improving health for all of us. Source: By David J. Willoughby http://www.minnpost.com/community-voices/2013/05/listen-minnesotans-66-support-raising-tobacco-price-150-pack

NMSU moves to be tobacco-free throughout system

The New Mexico State University system is in talks to become a tobacco-free university by July 2014. About 71 percent of main campus students, faculty and staff support the move, according to a 1,000-person email survey by the Campus Health Center. "We had such an overwhelming response to the idea that we are taking steps" to implement such a policy, center Executive Director Lori McKee said. The February survey and initial conversations came a month before the New Mexico Senate passed a memorial requesting all public post-secondary educational institutions in the state adopt a tobacco-free campus policy by July 1, 2014. If schools don't adopt such a policy, the memorial requests they explain why to two legislative committees. After the selection of the next president, NMSU will likely create a taskforce to decide whether the system will "go all the way" and be tobacco-free, prohibiting everything from cigarettes to dip, or just smoke-free, McKee said. The taskforce will likely advocate for the most stringent policy, a tobacco-free one, she said. "We're trying to add to the quality of life for everyone, not just students, faculty and staff, but everyone that comes on our campus," she said. NMSU would join more than 300 colleges and universities across the country that is tobacco-free. Half of NMSU's peer institutions have a smoke-free policy, McKee said. The University of New Mexico became largely tobacco-free in 2009 with 13 designated smoking areas on campus. "It's a major movement ... to move our institutions to a healthier environment," McKee said. NMSU currently prohibits smoking indoors; within 25 feet of entrances, exits, enclosed walkways and ventilation systems; in partially or fully enclosed walkways; and during some outdoor events. But secondhand smoke is hazardous to anyone nearby, McKee said, and implementing smoke- and tobacco-free policies will help decrease incidents of tobacco-related cancer. Tobacco use costs New Mexico $976 million in medical bills and lost productivity each year, according to the state Health Department. About 24 percent of New Mexico high school students and 17.9 percent of adults smoked at least one cigarette in the last month, according to a 2009 Health Department report. Enforcement of smoke- or tobacco-free policies will likely be difficult, McKee said, relying more on social norms than legal support. "Unless it's a law, you can't really cite someone for smoking," she said. UNM faces similar challenges, said Dr. Beverly Kloeppel, UNM's director of student health and counseling. The university planned to phase out the designated smoking areas within five years but is currently in a "holding pattern" as it looks at how to enforce a tobacco-free policy, Kloeppel said. "I do think we have much less smoking on campus, but there are problems with how it gets policed and enforced," she said. UNM's policy says it empowers the campus community to respectfully notify others of the rules and encourage compliance. Repeated or serious violations by students can be referred to the dean of students, while violations by employees can be referred to deans and department heads. Disciplinary action can ensue, though it is not described. UNM's tobacco-free move was a top-down initiative lead by former president David Schmidly, Kloeppel said. NMSU will similarly need the new president's support, McKee said, but the Senate memorial ensures the next leader won't squash the initiative.

Hungary Tobacco Market Reshuffle Roils Public

Hungary’s move to drastically restrict the number of outlets selling tobacco caused an uproar, with critics saying the government has restricted access to information about the way tobacco licenses were distributed. Hungary has made tobacco retailing a state monopoly and granted 20-year concessions to run tobacco shops for a flat fee to individuals selected mostly on the basis of the applicants’ business plan. Exact criteria for judging the business plans haven’t been made public. Critics of the Fidesz-led government’s measure claim the move has reshaped the market in a way that helps the government, which is facing parliamentary elections next year, by favoring Fidesz-friendly individuals and companies. Several of the critics, including some of the opposition parties, have challenged the measure in court.

But criticism also came from within the ruling party. Akos Hadhazy, a Fidesz-party representative in a countryside local council, said the license tender was biased and that the Fidesz representatives of the municipality of south Hungary’s town of Szekszard were told to choose Fidesz party-affiliated winners from among the bidders. Fidesz communication on policy steps has so far been firmly unified. “The Fidesz faction members were present at the meeting and the mayor, also the head of the constituency, said: ‘Here is the list of the applicants’. He asked us to check out who we knew [on this list] and who could be an appropriate applicant. I was surprised. I knew there are lobbies but that this can happen so openly I was surprised to see,” the local Fidesz representative was quoted as saying in an interview by the online version of business weekly hvg.hu.

Mr. Hadhazy wasn’t immediately available to comment. The town’s mayor, Istvan Horvath, said to the same publication that Mr. Hadhazy was lying. The tender, whose winners have been made known in recent days, will put Hungarian-owned small firms and entrepreneurs into a position of being able to make a living from tobacco sales, while tighter control of the market will reduce smoking, the government said. The measure will reduce tobacco sales points to only around 7,000 from the current 40,000. Because tobacco sales were separated as a business from the retailing of other goods and services, the government will also need to raise the price of tobacco to ensure the business remains profitable. The price of a packet of cigarettes will increase by about one third, after Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he’d like to raise the retail margin on tobacco to 12% from the current level of around 4%. Tobacco sales have so far been generating profits for supermarkets, many of which are foreign-owned, grocery stores, and filling stations, most of which are owned by Hungarian oil and gas company MOL MOL.BU +0.09% Nyrt.

The government isn’t planning to annul the tender because it was organized fully in line with the law, Janos Lazar, head of the Prime Minister’s office, said at a press conference Monday. The government is ready to fight the issue in court, he added. Those left in the losing field have formed an association and demanded from the government the publication of the list of all applicants, the names of those on the evaluation panels, and the minutes and notes on the bidding process. The government has said the data related to the tender are not public. Fidesz party’s two parliamentary representatives Monday submitted an amendment to the Information Act, which the Fidesz-dominated parliament approved Tuesday, to restrict “the abusive…demand of information…which could hinder the operation of the data provider greatly and for a prolonged period.” The amendment to the act says state audit offices ensure appropriate oversight over public service entities.

Fidesz MPs in parliament on Tuesday said the two moves–the tender and the modification to the Information Act–were unrelated. But in reaction to the parliament’s approval of the amendment, several civil groups such as K-Monitor, atlatszo.hu, the Civil Liberties Union and Transparency International have announced that they will quit the Anti-Corruption Working Group they had formed together with the government to fight corruption.

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2013/05/02/hungary-tobacco-market-reshuffle-roils-public/