Smell of pot smoke at centre of Yukon Human Rights Commission complaint

A Whitehorse woman says her rights were violated by a landlord who systematically harassed her and falsely accused her of smoking pot.

Candice Pauch has complained to the Yukon Human Rights Commission and is seeking $8,700 in damages.

Pauch's written complaint to the commission detailsher struggles with mental illnessand how she was repeatedly traumatized byAnne Pittens, the landlord of her Riverdale apartment. According to her complaint,Pauchhas severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post traumatic stressdisorder, stemming from a pastabusive relationship.

Pauch alleges Pittensdid not accommodate her mental disabilities. She says Pittens' "harrassment" instead caused her to relapse,harming herself by acting out her OCD behaviours.

"It justgot to the point where the anxiety and stress it was causing me just made me leave," Pauchsaid."And that's what she wanted anyways."

Pauchalleges that Pittensrepeatedly came to her door, accusing her of smoking marijuana and asking to be let in to verify.One time, Pittensenteredthe apartment without giving the 24 hours notice required by Yukon's Landlord and Tenant Act.

"When she's not following certain things, like 24 hours notice policies and knocking on the door, it triggers my anxiety which she had no respect for," Pauch said. She denies smoking pot.

'A field of pot smoke'

Pittenssays Pauch'shuman rightscomplaint is groundless.

"Iwould like to see the whole thing go away, because I believe that there is no complaint.Ibelieve there was no discrimination," Pittenssaid.

She said she was never aware of Pauch's mental illness, and even if she were, she would not have acted differently. She admits to entering Pauch's unit without noticebut said she had to act because other tenants were complainingabout the smell of marijuana.

"I made the call that it was an emergency, that I had a duty to protect the rights of the other tenants," Pittens said.

"For those young familiesgoing in and having to have their kids and babies and parents walk througha field of pot smoke everytime they went into their homeis not an acceptable situation."

The Yukon Human Rights Commission is reviewing Pauch's complaint, to determine whether it warrants a full investigation.