Low-income tenants seeking refuge from summer heat are putting pressure on N.S. to find more air-conditioned apartments
In Canada, the availability of government assistance for air conditioners for low-income individuals with health conditions varies significantly by province.
Ontario leads the way with active municipal-level programs, such as the pilot program in Toronto that provides free portable air conditioners to low-income seniors with health-related cooling needs. Eligible recipients go through an application and verification process, with air conditioners delivered directly as part of this initiative [2][4].
In contrast, Nova Scotia does not have a consistent policy to cover air conditioner costs for low-income individuals, even those with serious health conditions. Social assistance caseworkers reportedly refuse funding for air conditioners despite significant health impacts due to heat, with only isolated adjudicator rulings compelling the province to pay in individual cases [1].
At the federal level and in other Canadian provinces, there is no widespread direct subsidy for air conditioners for low-income individuals. Programs like the Canada Greener Homes Initiative offer grants for energy-efficient home retrofits, including heat pumps that can provide cooling, but these initiatives primarily focus on homeowner energy efficiency rather than immediate relief for vulnerable tenants [5].
Comparison with other countries can provide context. For instance, states like New York provide air conditioners through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) to low-income households with young children or seniors, and have recently expanded programs to include adults with asthma or other heat-exacerbated conditions. However, many such programs face challenges from funding cuts and eligibility restrictions [3].
Walsh, a 46-year-old woman from New Glasgow, N.S., has been struggling to breathe due to high temperatures in her apartment and her progressive lung disease. She wants to buy a $300 air conditioner, but is concerned it would leave her with little money for food or medications. Garnier, a 75-year-old woman from Ottawa, shares similar concerns as she lives on a small pension and isn't eligible for assistance programs because she is not receiving income assistance.
Last month, Health Canada reported that the number of people showing up at emergency rooms with heat-related problems continues to rise, from about 600 in 2004 to about 1,100 in 2023. Walsh is among many low-income Canadians with health conditions struggling to get government help to stay cool.
In Moncton, N.B., Jongeneelen, vice chair of ACORN New Brunswick, said there's no real programs out there to help people living on disability pensions. Leggett, another resident of New Glasgow, won an appeal last year for the province to pay for her air conditioner due to her chronic pain condition, but the ruling only applies to her.
Alex Boston, a B.C.-based urban planner and consultant, suggests that indoor temperatures can be lowered by using window shades and fans, which can decrease indoor temperatures by as much as 10 C. The City of Toronto recently started offering a pilot program for low-income seniors, but more widespread solutions are needed to address this critical health issue for low-income and medically vulnerable populations during extreme heat events.
| Location | Government AC Assistance for Low-Income with Health Conditions | Program Type/Notes | |---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Ontario, Canada | Pilot programs (Toronto) + support via income assistance programs | Free portable ACs to seniors; application through municipal or First Nations programs[2][4] | | Nova Scotia, Canada | No general policy; case-by-case adjudications only | Refusal by social assistance to fund ACs despite health needs[1] | | Other Canadian Provinces | No specific direct AC assistance found; federal grants focus on efficiency retrofits | Canada Greener Homes Initiative supports heat pumps, but not immediate cooling aid[5] | | New York State, USA | HEAP + new programs for asthma and vulnerable adults | ACs through healthcare plans; funding challenges ongoing[3] |
- The significance of workplace-wellness becomes apparent as more organizations recognize the importance of maintaining their employees' mental-health and fitness-and-exercise, especially during periods of climate-change that may exacerbate health issues.
- In recent years, environmental-science has seen an increased focus on skin-care products that are made with eco-friendly ingredients and sustainable practices, in line with a growing concerns about the environmental impact of personal care items.
- As more research is conducted in the field of health-and-wellness, encouraging evidence indicates that air conditioners can help alleviate heat-related health problems, including those with chronic lung diseases like Walsh and Garnier, making it a critical component of health care in warmer climates.
- While the importance of access to air conditioners for low-income individuals with health conditions has been highlighted, there also exists an opportunity to invest in preventative measures such as education on climate-change and heat mitigation strategies, like shades and fans, to lessen the demand for air conditioning and reduce strain on already strained systems.
