For Immediate Release
October 7, 2026, Toronto – The City of Hamilton’s adoption today of Ontario’s first maximum indoor temperature by-law and pilot program is a welcome first step toward protecting tenants from dangerous heat but more needs to be done, says a group of community legal organizations providing legal services to low-income Ontarians.
In response to the new by-law, Jaqueline Wilson, counsel with the Canadian Environmental Law Association said:
“We applaud Hamilton City Council for taking this important step. Tenants deserve to be protected from extreme heat just as they are from extreme cold. This pilot is a move in the right direction and we hope other cities across Ontario follow Hamilton’s lead.”
Zee Bhanji, Stakeholder Engagement and Energy Policy Analyst with the Low-Income Energy Network said:
“For low-income households, staying cool shouldn’t mean having to choose between paying their energy bills and protecting their health. This pilot recognizes that safe indoor temperatures are a necessity, not a luxury.”
Douglas Kwan, Director of Advocacy and Legal Services, Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, said:
“As climate change brings more extreme heat, a safe home must also be a cool home. Hamilton’s proposed 26 degree pilot in Ward 2 is an important step toward protecting tenants from dangerous indoor temperatures and advancing the right to safe rental housing.”
Kimber-lee Wargalla, Community Outreach Co-Ordinator, Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, said:
“For older adults, extreme heat can make a person’s home unsafe. Seniors should not have to leave their homes to survive a heat wave. Hamilton’s pilot is a critical first step toward protecting vulnerable tenants, but that protection should not depend on a tenant’s postal code. The pilot must be expanded, the by-law must be enforced, and tenants must have the support they need to stay safely in their homes.”
Background:
- Climate change is bringing hotter summers, and tenants who can’t escape heat in their homes face serious health risks.
- Health Canada recommends a maximum indoor temperature of 26°C to protect older adults and other people vulnerable to extreme heat.
- Prolonged exposure to high indoor temperatures can lead to serious health impacts, including cardiovascular and respiratory illness, dehydration, and death, especially for at-risk populations such as seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income residents.
- Hamilton’s by-law requires landlords to keep rental units at or below 26°C, but only for one room in the unit.
- The pilot runs for two years and applies only in Ward 2. We recommend expanding the pilot to Wards 3 and 4 immediately, and extending protection city-wide by summer 2028.
- We recommend removing the tenant opt-out, since lower-income tenants could be pressured by landlords to give up this health protection.
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For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jacqueline Wilson, Counsel, Canadian Environmental Law Association, jacqueline@cela.ca, 416-960-2284 ext. 7213
Ukeme Ebong, Communications and Public Affairs Specialist, Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, ukeme.ebong@acto.clcj.ca, 416-597-5855 ext. 5170
Kimber-lee Wargalla, Community Outreach Co-Ordinator, Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, kimberlee.wargalla@ace.clcj.ca, 416-598-2656 x 1231
Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a legal aid clinic dedicated to environmental equity, justice, and health.
The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) is a specialty community legal clinic with a provincial mandate to advance and protect the housing rights of low-income Ontarians including tenants, co-op members and people experiencing homelessness across the province.
Low-Income Energy Network‘s (LIEN) vision is an Ontario where everyone has equitable access to conservation and financial assistance programs and services to meet their basic energy needs affordably and sustainably.
Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) is a specialty community legal clinic serving low-income seniors across the province with a focus on elder law issues.
Media Statement: Legal clinics applaud Hamilton’s maximum indoor temperature by-law
For Immediate Release
October 7, 2026, Toronto – The City of Hamilton’s adoption today of Ontario’s first maximum indoor temperature by-law and pilot program is a welcome first step toward protecting tenants from dangerous heat but more needs to be done, says a group of community legal organizations providing legal services to low-income Ontarians.
In response to the new by-law, Jaqueline Wilson, counsel with the Canadian Environmental Law Association said:
“We applaud Hamilton City Council for taking this important step. Tenants deserve to be protected from extreme heat just as they are from extreme cold. This pilot is a move in the right direction and we hope other cities across Ontario follow Hamilton’s lead.”
Zee Bhanji, Stakeholder Engagement and Energy Policy Analyst with the Low-Income Energy Network said:
“For low-income households, staying cool shouldn’t mean having to choose between paying their energy bills and protecting their health. This pilot recognizes that safe indoor temperatures are a necessity, not a luxury.”
Douglas Kwan, Director of Advocacy and Legal Services, Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, said:
“As climate change brings more extreme heat, a safe home must also be a cool home. Hamilton’s proposed 26 degree pilot in Ward 2 is an important step toward protecting tenants from dangerous indoor temperatures and advancing the right to safe rental housing.”
Kimber-lee Wargalla, Community Outreach Co-Ordinator, Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, said:
“For older adults, extreme heat can make a person’s home unsafe. Seniors should not have to leave their homes to survive a heat wave. Hamilton’s pilot is a critical first step toward protecting vulnerable tenants, but that protection should not depend on a tenant’s postal code. The pilot must be expanded, the by-law must be enforced, and tenants must have the support they need to stay safely in their homes.”
Background:
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For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jacqueline Wilson, Counsel, Canadian Environmental Law Association, jacqueline@cela.ca, 416-960-2284 ext. 7213
Ukeme Ebong, Communications and Public Affairs Specialist, Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, ukeme.ebong@acto.clcj.ca, 416-597-5855 ext. 5170
Kimber-lee Wargalla, Community Outreach Co-Ordinator, Advocacy Centre for the Elderly, kimberlee.wargalla@ace.clcj.ca, 416-598-2656 x 1231
Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a legal aid clinic dedicated to environmental equity, justice, and health.
The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) is a specialty community legal clinic with a provincial mandate to advance and protect the housing rights of low-income Ontarians including tenants, co-op members and people experiencing homelessness across the province.
Low-Income Energy Network‘s (LIEN) vision is an Ontario where everyone has equitable access to conservation and financial assistance programs and services to meet their basic energy needs affordably and sustainably.
Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) is a specialty community legal clinic serving low-income seniors across the province with a focus on elder law issues.
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