By: Olivia Parker
Asper Centre/Yaremko Fellow, JD Candidate 2027, University of Toronto, Faculty of Law
While air conditioning usage has increased overall in Canada, a new study by Statistics Canada indicates that renters and those with low total household income are falling behind.
The study shows an increase in air conditioning usage across Canada over the last sixty years. Among residential dwellings built before 1960, only 58.4% have air conditioning. In comparison, 80.3% of dwellings built after 2001 have air conditioning. In total, 68.3% of Canadian households have air conditioning. Ontario has the highest proportion of households with air conditioning, with 83.0% of households reported to have a cooling system.
Despite the increasing prevalence of air conditioning units in Canadian households, the Statistics Canada study reveals glaring environmental justice gaps in access to air conditioning. 75.9% of homeowners have an air conditioner, compared to just 52.1% of renters. Furthermore, those with low total household income are less likely to have an air conditioner. Only 54.8% of Canadians with a total household income less than $50,000 have air conditioning, whereas 82.2% of Canadian households that earn over $150,000 have cooling systems.
As temperatures continue to soar across Canada, more effort is needed to ensure that vulnerable Canadians have access to air conditioning so they can keep cool in their homes during periods of extreme heat. CELA and LIEN are advocating for a maximum indoor temperature standard of 26 degrees Celsius to be implemented in all rental units, and for emergency programs to distribute free heat pumps and air conditioning units to people vulnerable to the impacts of heat. Find more information about the impacts of extreme heat on the CELA and LIEN websites.
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