Kingston councillors have decided to move forward with a motion to establish a maximum temperature of 26 degrees Celsius for residential rental units equipped with air conditioning during the summer.
Currently, while landlords in Ontario are required to provide heating, there is no similar obligation for cooling.
Environmental and health advocates spoke before council to argue that this is a necessary step as the impacts of climate change become more prevalent. Advocates also requested council amend the motion to cover units without air conditioning already installed.
However, concerns were raised about the financial burden on landlords, particularly those managing older buildings without existing air conditioning infrastructure.
Council was also cautioned by the city’s lawyer, Jenna Morley, about the legal limits of the city to enforce a bylaw covering all rental units.
Ultimately, council passed an amended motion, moving forward with the temperature requirement for units with air conditioning and awaiting progress in similar legislation in other municipalities to extend to all units.
