Residents at Valleyview Towers in North Battleford have sent a letter to Premier Scott Moe and other provincial cabinet ministers seeking action on issues at the facility.
The correspondence is from Darryl Mills, a former manager at Valleyview Towers, who outlined complaints directed against the Battlefords Housing Authority about their failure to address second-hand smoke at the facility. Also attached were letters of support from three tenants corroborating the concerns about second-hand smoke in the building.
It was addressed to Premier Moe as well as ministers Lori Carr, Paul Merriman and Everett Hindley, and to a number of media organizations including the News-Optimist.
The correspondence is the latest in a long-running letter-writing campaign by Valleyview Towers residents calling for changes to management at Battlefords Housing Authority over various security, crime, disorderly conduct and now smoking problems at the housing complex.
In his letter to the premier dated June 11, Mills alleges a “deplorable lack of competent professional management and leadership that has overtaken the entire housing authority.”
Mills stated the Valleyview Tower II building of 89 units now has more than 50 vacant suites and that a large number of the empty suites are currently not inhabitable.
He alleges “rampant uncontrolled smoking” which led one tenant — referring to Les Turner, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — to file a complaint with the Office of Residential Tenancies due to second-hand smoke in the building.
Mills also expressed concerns about the response from BHA management in the immediate aftermath of that complaint filing.
Mills alleges that several days after filing the ORT claim, “all of the chairs were removed from the large non-smoking patio area in front of the main entrance. This left no shaded area anywhere on the property for non-smokers to sit, visit and get out of the sun.”
“It cannot be overstated this is the first time in 40 years that non-smoking tenants in this building we’re not able to find a place in the shade to sit,” Mills writes. He also noted Valleyview Tower II was also the only housing authority facility to have the chairs removed.
“And your government says it cares about seniors? Clearly, this and other even more despicable actions by the manager are nothing more than vindictive and petulant.”
Mills also stated that the current designated smoking area needed to be “immediately permanently removed,” and that the designated smoking area had been moved at least six times in recent years.
Mills ended his correspondence by hinting at further legal action. “We don’t wish to take further action or use the courts, but will if we are left with no other option.”
The News-Optimist has reached out to the premier’s office for comment. In response, a statement has been provided by Saskatchewan Housing Corporation. It reads:
“Saskatchewan Housing Corporation is aware of the situation at ValleyView Towers in North Battleford. The Battlefords Housing Authority is receiving our full support in its ongoing work to improve relationships in the building.
“The Battlefords Housing Authority has made significant, long-term efforts to address concerns in the building, including contracting a new security provider to improve tenant safety and reporting to the housing authority, one-on-one meetings with tenants and an investigation into concerns raised by tenants. This work has also led to plans for new outdoor areas for tenant use, which is currently out for tender.
“These efforts are ongoing and we are confident that tenants and staff will continue working together to create a safe and positive environment.”
