LIEN Annual Conference 2022 – Code Red: Protecting Vulnerable Populations from the Impact of Extreme Heat

This event took place on Thursday, Sept 29, 2022.
Conference materials are available below.

This year’s Low-Income Energy Network conference explored the rise in climate change-related extreme heat events and the need to start recognizing that we have a climate emergency and put in place protocols that protect our communities.

Topics included:

• Why extreme heat is a rising challenge in Canada
• Tracking of heat-related deaths in Canada
• Best practices on maximum heat bylaws and tenant protections in other jurisdictions
• Exploring air conditioning as a vital service
• Opportunity for immediate action at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels

Speakers

Abhilash Kantamneni

Abhi is Research Associate at Efficiency Canada, leading work on low-income energy efficiency. His involvement with energy poverty research includes leading a network of social impact organizations in Houghton, Michigan into the finals for a national community energy efficiency competition.  His data-driven storytelling approach to clean energy, civic engagement and capacity building has earned wide recognition including being named a ’40 Under 40 Energy Leader’ by the Midwest Energy News, a Canada Storyteller Award by Canada’s Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. He has a B.E, Electrical Engineering, MS Physics, MS Computer Science, and is currently completing his PhD in Geography at the University of Guelph researching energy poverty and building retrofits in Ontario’s community housing sector. 

Presentation overview: Achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 will require moving beyond shallow measures to deep retrofits that target greater than 50% savings across a majority of Canada’s building stock, a significant portion of which house renters. However, deep retrofits require significant in-suite measures that may cause disruption and/or displacement of tenants. Given this reality, how can Canada’s rental housing stock be upgraded to climate-ready while also minimizing negative impacts for renters? This presentation introduces a tenants rights + energy efficiency policy-mix framework, and argues that for deep-retrofits to be viable and successful, energy efficiency policies should work in tandem with policies that protect and enshrine tenant rights. You can find the presentation below.

Joanna Eyquem

Joanna is Managing Director of Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and lead author of the Intact Centre’s recent guidance “Irreversible Extreme Heat: Protecting Canadians and Communities from a Lethal Future”. Joanna has over 20 years of professional experience in Canada and the UK, combining expertise in climate adaptation, natural hazard management, and habitat restoration. She serves on several international, national and municipal committees offering advice to accelerate practical action to reduce climate risk.

Presentation overview: The presentation will provide an overview of extreme heat projections for Canada and the urban areas that are most exposed, with specific focus on Ontario. It will also highlight actions that individuals, property owners / managers, and communities can take to reduce risks, drawing on recent national guidance. View the presentation below.

Gordon McBean

Professor Emeritus Gordon McBean PhD has been at Western University since 2000, in the Department of Geography and Environment and Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction. Previously, he was Assistant Deputy Minister, Environment Canada (1994-2000), responsible for weather, climate and air quality sciences and service; Professor, Atmospheric-Oceanic Sciences, University of British Columbia (1988-94); and Senior Scientist in Environment Canada. Internationally, he was President, International Council for Science (2014-18), Co-Chair, Future Earth Governing Council (2016-18) and Chair, Science Committee, World Climate Research Program (1988-94). He is a: Member, Orders of Canada and Ontario; Fellow: Royal Society of Canada, and other societies; and awarded: 2017 International Meteorological Organization Prize. 1988 Patterson Medal for distinguished contributions to meteorology in Canada and others.

Presentation overview: In responding to the climate change issues, there is need for an integrated energy-climate policy. An interdisciplinary team addressed how communities across Canada can proactively advance climate- resilience to effectively reduce the extreme heat and other climate risks, and their adverse impacts, loss and damage. There are challenges across multi-level governance levels and sectors of society and needs for integrated early warning systems and better prevention strategies with collaboration between governments, Indigenous communities, and societies to implement integrated risk reduction actions. The expert community has developed proven tools, based on best practices, to proactively improve climate resilience with a major issue being lack of funding and direction for governments and indigenous communities to address climate resilience.  The Report (https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/geographypub/369 ) provides guidance. You can find the presentation below.

Dr. Samantha Green

Samantha Green is a family physician at St. Michael’s Hospital and with Inner City Health Associates, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, and Faculty Lead in Climate Change & Health in the Department of Family & Community Medicine. She sits on the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. She advocates for climate action with the aim of improving the health of her patients and community.

Presentation overview: Climate change is the greatest health threat of our time. This presentation will briefly review the health impacts of climate change and specifically extreme heat, and will provide an overview of what actions health professionals are taking to fight the climate emergency. You can find the presentation below.

Jane Meadus

Jane Meadus is a staff lawyer and Institutional Advocate at ACE, representing seniors with legal issues related to being in institutions such as long-term care homes and hospitals. Jane was called to the bar in 1993, joining ACE in 1995. She is a published author, regular public speaker and frequent media contributor on long-term care issues and chairs the Elder Law Certificate program and the Consent, Capacity and Substitute Decision Making program for Osgoode Professional Development. She represents parties at inquests related to long-term care, including the El Roubi/Lopez Inquest, and the Gillese Inquiry into Long-Term Care. Jane is a member of the National Long-Term Care Services Standard Committee, addressing standards for the delivery of safe, reliable and high-quality long-term care services. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the Canadian Centre for Elder Law Studies and the 2016 recipient of the Osgoode Professional Development Award for Outstanding Contribution to CLE.

Presentation overview: The presentation Heat & Seniors: A story of Governmental Indifference will be looking at planning for heat waves re: seniors in community, long-term care homes, and government responses. You can find the presentation below.

Meaghan Kenley

Meaghan Kenley is a second-year law student at Western University who recently completed a summer internship at the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA). After finishing her Bachelor of Science in biology with a focus on global change, she discovered her passion for environmental protection. Meaghan then decided to pursue law to take action against climate change in Canada. At CELA, Meaghan had the opportunity to work on various projects related to climate change and equity, including drafting model by-laws and recommendations around extreme heat. 

Jacqueline Wilson

Jacqueline is counsel at the Canadian Environmental Law Association. She is passionate about environmental health and environmental justice. She has represented clients before various provincial and federal administrative tribunals, and has appeared at all levels of Ontario and federal Courts. She specializes in climate change, energy and land use planning, and is CELA’s student program coordinator.

Presentation overview: Meaghan Kenley and Jacqueline Wilson will provide an overview of the Canadian Environmental Law Association’s climate change and vulnerable communities project. CELA’s goal is to provide model legal language to address the many ways that extreme heat affects low-income communities.
The presentation will look at:
1- Legal authority for municipalities to address climate change
2- Recommendations to improve urban tree cover
3- Recommendations for green roofs and other alternatives
4- A mandatory maximum heat-bylaw

You can find the presentation below.

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Past Conferences

Please contact LIEN for annual conference material prior to 2011.

2021 LIEN Annual Conference

“Energy Equity: Using Energy Efficiency to Fight Energy Poverty in Canada”

Tuesday, June 29, 2021, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (via Zoom)

The conference explored themes of energy equity, affordability and access.

Presentations:

• The national push for low-income energy efficiency programming – James Gaede & Kirstin Pulles (Efficiency Canada)
• Climate Change and Low-Income Communities – Theresa McClenaghan (Canadian Environmental Law Association)
• Energy for whom? Justice in sustainable energy futures – Stephen Hill (Trent University)
• Measuring Climate Equity – Sagal Alisalad (Applied Economics Clinic)
• A holistic approach to reducing energy costs in Indigenous Nations – Karim Abraham (Community Power)

2019 LIEN Annual Conference

“Affordable Energy: Are We There Yet?”

Tuesday, May 14, 2019, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Chestnut Residence & Conference Centre, Terrace Room (3rd floor), 89 Chestnut Street, Toronto

The conference offered an opportunity to take stock of current energy assistance programs and ensure that they meet the needs of low-income consumers in a manner that is equitable, sustainable, and holistic.

The conference explored:

• The current status of energy assistance programs in the province
• The role you and your organization can play in promoting and preserving current programs
• Free energy conservation and efficiency retrofit programs that help lower electricity and gas bills
• Financial assistance programs that help pay for electricity and gas bills on an ongoing or emergency basis

2018 LIEN Annual Conference

“Ensuring Universal Access to Energy”

Friday, May 4, 2018, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at 63 Gould Street, Oakham House, Ryerson University, Thomas Lounge (ground floor)

The conference explored:

• Why electricity prices are rising
• Where to obtain  information on free energy conservation and efficiency retrofit programs to help you lower your electricity and gas bills
• How to apply for financial assistance to help you pay for your electricity and gas bills
• About energy as an aspect of the right to housing

2017 LIEN Annual Conference

“Shedding Light on Ontario’s Energy Sector”

Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Confederation Place Hotel, 237 Ontario Street, Kingston

The aim of the conference was to improve energy literacy conference and empower advocates and low-income communities with the foundational information necessary to build knowledge, insight and understanding of essential energy issues that affect their everyday lives.

The conference explored:

• Why electricity prices are rising and Ontario’s Fair Hydro Plan
• How to understand your electricity bill
• Where to obtain information on free energy conservation and efficiency programs to help you lower your electricity and gas bills
• How to apply for financial assistance to help you pay for your electricity and gas bills

2016 LIEN Annual Conference

“Meeting the challenges of energy affordability”

Wednesday, March 23, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM at 63 Gould Street, Oakham House, Ryerson University, Thomas Lounge (ground floor), Toronto

2015 LIEN Annual Conference

“Closing the Gap on Energy Affordability”

2014 LIEN Annual Conference

“Celebrating a Decade of Low-Income Energy Advocacy”

Tuesday, March 25, 2014, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Harbourfront Community Centre, Dance Studio, 627 Queens Quay West (corner Bathurst St), Toronto

2013 LIEN Annual Conference

“Navigating Ontario’s New Low-Income Energy Landscape”

Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Harbourfront Community Centre, Dance Studio, 627 Queens Quay West (corner Bathurst St), Toronto

The conference explored:

• Rising energy prices and the need for a low-income rate affordability program
• Addressing energy affordability within the context of the Ontario Energy Board’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program
• Reducing bills and pollution through energy conservation programs for low-income consumers 

There was also a special keynote address from the Chair of the Ontario Energy Board, Ms. Rosemarie T. Leclair.

2011 LIEN Annual Conference

“Working in Harmony on Ontario’s Low-Income Energy Future”