Ottawa MPP calls for maximum heat law
The law would cap the temperature of an apartment at 26 C
An Ottawa MPP is calling for better protections for renters during extreme heat.
Catherine McKenney, the provincial NDP's housing critic and representative for Ottawa Centre, said they plan to bring a motion to Queen's Park this fall that would see apartment temperatures capped at 26 C.
The move comes as much of eastern Ontario remains under a heat warning, with daily highs ranging from 29 to 32 C, expected to last until Thursday.
McKenney says they're hearing from constituents who need support.
"They are sitting in sweltering rental units, often their landlords don't allow them to put in their their own air conditioning unit," McKenney said. "We hear that they are at risk. We know that people die from extreme heat."
According to Statistics Canada, extreme heat events between 2000 and 2020 led to more than 670 more deaths than usual across Canada's 12 largest cities. Seniors, people with disabilities and young children are most at risk during heat waves.
Ontario does not track the number of heat-related deaths in the province.
- Ontario needs to better track heat-related deaths, advocates say
- Heat waves linked to higher mortality rates, especially in cities with more renters
AC not required
In Ontario, landlords are not required by law to provide air conditioning. If a lease allows, a tenant may install their own AC unit. But if a landlord says no, the tenant's only other option is to appeal to the Landlord and Tenant Board.
In 2023, the Progressive Conservatives passed a bill with a provision that would allow all tenants to install their own portable or window air conditioner. Bill 97 received royal assent, but the section that mentioned AC was never proclaimed.
"This is the only provision that was never enacted," McKenney said, adding the province hadn't explained why the provision was left out.
CBC reached the office of Ontario's housing minister, which did not comment.
McKenney's solution is to propose a new law when Queen's Park sits again in the fall.
'Not just giving them money for nothing'
Shaw Chard signed a petition in favour of the new law. She's been living in a third floor apartment with bright windows and no AC.
Her landlord has offered to provide an AC window unit later this month. Until then, she'll be sweating it out.
"Just in my own place right now like I am finding it difficult," she said, adding she signed the petition because she wanted to support other tenants.
"I do feel like it's important to hold landlords accountable for keeping tenants safe," Chard said.
"Tenants can forget that our landlord does owe us stuff in return. We're not just giving them money for nothing. The shelter needs to actually be safe shelter."
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