Despite a cool spring, many tenants across Ontario are already bracing for another dangerously hot summer without proper access to air conditioning. Advocates say that without urgent action from all levels of government, more people—especially low-income tenants—will face serious health risks during future heat waves.
Marcia Bryan, chairperson of the Cooksville chapter of Peel ACORN, says the lack of mandatory air conditioning policies for landlords is a growing problem. Bryan, who lives in an older apartment building in Mississauga, says she and her family struggled through last summer after their window AC unit was damaged by pigeons, and they couldn’t afford a replacement. With indoor temperatures often soaring to 30°C, she describes the living conditions as unbearable, especially while cooking. “Sometimes we take showers three times a day. You can’t escape it,” she said.
ACORN recently released a report based on 750 tenant responses, revealing that 44 per cent of low- and moderate-income renters don’t have access to air conditioning, and many can’t afford it. The report argues that, as Canada’s climate becomes hotter, air conditioning should be treated as a basic necessity—not a luxury.
According to the report, 54 per cent of tenants identified extreme heat as their top maintenance concern, while only 19 per cent said their landlords had made any energy efficiency upgrades. Of those who did receive eco-retrofits, 34 per cent experienced rent increases afterward. The data also shows renters are more likely to live in inefficient buildings, increasing both utility costs and health risks.
In 2023, federal data indicated that nearly half of Canada’s lowest-income households relied on outdated heating systems, and over a third had no access to air conditioning. About 2.6 per cent of these households required medical attention due to lack of temperature control. ACORN warns that rising energy costs will force more tenants to choose between essentials like food, rent, and cooling.
Bryan and other tenant advocates are calling for urgent reforms. They want all levels of government to enforce a maximum indoor temperature of 26°C in the summer, regardless of whether a landlord already provides air conditioning. ACORN also wants the federal government to introduce a national energy poverty program and require that all retrofit projects include affordability guarantees and tenant protections against eviction.
While Mississauga’s current bylaw requires landlords to maintain a minimum year-round temperature of 20°C, it only enforces a 26°C maximum if the unit already includes AC. The city says it has no immediate plans to change the bylaw but will review it based on provincial legislation.
Some cities, including Toronto and Hamilton, are considering new bylaws that would apply cooling standards to all rental units, not just those with existing air conditioning. A City of Toronto report projects that the number of days exceeding 30°C could more than triple by mid-century, from about 20 days to 66.
Landlord associations argue that mandatory cooling rules could result in rent hikes, but tenant advocates insist those policies must be supported by funding programs to prevent further hardship.
Bryan says that inaction will lead to more tragedies like the 2021 heat wave in B.C., which claimed the lives of over 600 people. She urges residents to speak up and share their stories. “People just grin and bear it,” she said. “They think no one is listening, so we need to raise awareness.”