We, the undersigned, demand that Calgary Housing Corporation (CHC) and the City of Calgary immediately cancel the rollout of their new blanket smoke-free policy on all Calgary Housing properties. This policy is ableist, discriminatory, and oppressive, targeting vulnerable tenants who rely on public housing for their safety and stability.

While private landlords have the option to designate smoking or non-smoking units, tenants in Calgary Housing have no choice. This policy removes our right to make personal health decisions—such as legally smoking tobacco or vaping—under threat of eviction within 14 days, despite many tenants living with disabilities, mobility challenges, or caregiving responsibilities that make compliance impossible.

Previous policies, like the no-cannabis policy, made exceptions for medicinal use after tenant consultation. In contrast, the current no-smoking policy was implemented with misleading claims of tenant support and consultation, which many tenants, including single parents, seniors, and persons with disabilities, strongly dispute.

The City and CHC position themselves as equivalent to private landlords, yet they fail to provide the same options available in the private rental market. This is a fundamental inequality and an infringement on constitutional rights.

We demand:

Immediate cancellation of the blanket no-smoking policy rollout.

Restoration of tenant choice by allowing properties (not including buildings) to maintain their previous smoking or non-smoking status.

Proper consultation with affected tenants, particularly vulnerable populations.

Installation of safe disposal receptacles on all properties to address public health concerns without restricting tenant choice.

We demand a public apology to all citizens for implementing discriminatory and ableist policies that unjustly target vulnerable tenants. This apology should send a clear message that it is never acceptable for anyone to be treated differently—whether through government actions or public discourse—because of who they are.

This petition calls for fairness, respect for bodily autonomy, and equality for all tenants. Vulnerable tenants should not be forced into impossible choices that jeopardize their housing and well-being.

We ask the City of Calgary and Calgary Housing Corporation to listen to the people they serve and respect the rights of low-income, disabled, and vulnerable tenants who deserve dignity and freedom in their homes.