Heatwave Canada: How renters in Canada's big cities are beating the heat — and why it'll only get worse

Canadians were scorched by the arrival of summer last month that coincided with the season's first stifling heatwave, which swept through eastern Canada with temperatures hitting 35 C. This, of course, was only the beginning, as weather services warned Canadians of dangerously high heat and humidity.

As the climate warms, heatwaves are only getting hotter and tougher to battle — particularly for renters. According to a new Statistics Canada report, mortality risks during extreme heat events are higher in cities with larger proportions of renter households. That’s largely due to renters having less access to air conditioning as compared to home owners.

Of the 12 cities analyzed in the report, Montreal and Toronto have the highest proportions of renter households.

This week, Vancouver is the latest Canadian city expected to be hit by a heatwave, with temperatures above 32 C and warmer settling over B.C. this weekend and into next week.

Renter: Single mother's home is a 'heat trap'

Maya Bastian, a Toronto-based filmmaker and single mother, rents the main floor of a house that she dubs a “heat trap.” She shares, “The landlord keeps trying to charge me for putting in a window unit. She sends a letter every year telling me there will be a charge. I’ve let her know on multiple occasions that, according to landlord tenant law, she cannot legally charge us unless it’s in the lease. She ignores me and continues to ask me to pay; I don’t.”

It’s a conflict many renters across Canada face. But Bastian is correct; unless your lease addresses an air conditioning fee, landlords can’t charge you for bringing one in. Still, many say they avoid purchasing one with their landlords finger-wagging, saying it will use more power. Though, again, unless your lease stipulates what the electricity can be used for, this is null and void.

This has led to a rising outcry from citizens and politicians — like MPP Jessica Bell who, in a June letter to the provincial housing minister, said, “Nobody deserves to be working, living or learning in temperatures that put their health at risk. … To ensure renters live in safe and comfortable homes, we are calling for this government to establish a maximum temperature law for rentals, and permit tenants to safely install air-conditioning units in their homes."

Health and heatwaves: How scorching temps affect your body

But it’s not just about avoiding a little sweat. With great heatwaves, come great health impacts.

Lisa Barry, who lives in Toronto community housing that does not include air conditioning, lives with chronic myeloid leukemia and takes a daily chemotherapy pill. One of the side effects of the disease and her medication is excessive sweating, which has been exacerbated by the heat and has led to nausea, vomiting, night sweats, dehydration, and more.

“During heatwaves, I can't go anywhere and it's terribly hot in the apartment causing all the side effects to intensify,” she says. “I am very worried what the rest of the summer brings. This past week has been excruciating and summer hasn't even really begun. I’m scared for my safety. I can't afford to get air conditioning or fans, and I can barely eat.”

Indeed, Toby Mündel, a professor and Canada Research Chair on extreme human environments at St. Catharines’ Brock University, says, “[In the] short term, the heat will have the most impact on those with pre-existing medical conditions or using medications, especially the common metabolic (e.g. diabetes) and cardiovascular (e.g. hypertension, heart disease, peripheral artery disease). Some of their mechanisms to dissipate the heat are compromised by their illness and/or medication, meaning they will typically have more negative and extreme responses.”

As we age, our temperature regulation becomes less effective unless we stay active and avoid putting on weight, he explains, meaning elderly people are more likely to suffer from heat-related incidents. As for kids, they’re less able to detect warning signs and can, therefore, accidentally overheat if they’re playing too vigorously, for instance. With little relief in the evenings, heatwaves only worsen these problems for at-risk populations.

Tips to beat the heat this summer: Canada heatwave 2024

In order to cope, Bastian closes her home’s windows during the day to keep the humidity out, and then opens them each night to let the cool air in to circulate. She also takes frequent cold showers and tries to avoid cooking during heatwaves when she’ll opt for salads and prepared foods instead. Barry does much of the same, and also spends more time in free, accessible, air conditioned spaces like libraries, malls and the subway.

Mündel also recommends taking advantage of green spaces, like gardens and parks, using blinds or black-out curtains that can effectively keep the sun out, and using cheap ceiling or free-standing fans. He also suggests using mist sprays and cold compresses on your hands, feet, face and neck — especially before you head to bed.

Installing air conditioning may not be an immediate and actionable solution due to logistical and financial reasons, but Mündel believes if workspaces have “safe” cooling and heating, then a long-term goal should be that we require this in all public spaces, including schools and care homes. Short-term solutions on the part of the provincial government can include investing in ceiling fan installation, providing shutters and blinds, free-standing fans, and subsidies for personal air conditioning installation.

“Otherwise, they are likely shooting themselves in the foot, because future heatwaves will overwhelm the health system much like we saw during COVID,” he says. “So, some investment is necessary and the responsible solution no matter what the bottom line is.”

And yes, there are countless communities around the world who live through extreme heat without solutions like these, and who have learned to adapt through open spaces, clothing choices, and how their homes are built. As Mündel says, “Humans are very tolerant, resilient and adaptable creatures and so we can surprisingly live quite well in these conditions, but it requires substantial change on how we live in these modern-day temperature climates.”