Province taking action to help people stay safe, cool

With warmer temperatures on the way and weather experts forecasting a hot summer, the Province and public-health officials are taking several steps to help people stay safe this summer and are asking people to plan ahead.

The Province is:

• expanding the Free Portable Air Conditioner (AC) program to reach 19,000 more eligible households;
• supporting further improvements to long-term care and assisted living homes to protect seniors from climate impacts through a $6-million grant to the BC Care Providers Association’s EquipCare BC program; and
• adding extreme heat warnings to highway signs to inform people about expected extreme heat events, similar to wildfire, construction and road safety messaging.

The Province has also developed new guidelines to clarify rules around installing AC units and better support renters and landlords to work together to safely install AC units, where possible.

“With the forecast for a hot summer ahead, now is the time to take steps to prepare yourself and your family so you can be safe and ready for potential impacts of extreme heat and wildfire smoke,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer. “Poor air quality and excessive heat are growing public-health risks that can have significant impacts on people’s health. We want people to be aware of the potential for extreme summer weather and know what actions they can take to stay safe and manage and reduce risk.”

The BC Heat Alert Response System (HARS) has been developed and recently updated by a group of public-health, emergency-management and climate-readiness professionals. BC HARS is a two-tier heat-alert and response system that issues notices for heat warnings and extreme-heat emergencies to provide important information to people in B.C.

The Province is providing a $6-million grant to extend the BC Care Providers Association’s EquipCare BC program for improvement to long-term care and assisted-living homes. The investment will enhance the living environment of these facilities by installing infection control, air and water-quality temperature-control equipment, such as air conditioning, blinds and electrical upgrades necessary to protect seniors from the impacts of recurring extreme weather events and poor air quality due to wildfires. The EquipCare BC program helps long-term care and assisted living facility operators to purchase equipment and technology to enhance the safety and quality of life of seniors.

Since summer 2023, BC Hydro has provided more than 6,000 free air conditioners to people throughout the province, with thousands more expected to be installed in the coming months through the Free Portable Air Conditioner program. Through $20 million in new funding, BC Hydro expects 19,000 more eligible households will be able to access a free AC unit. In total, BC Hydro expects the program to provide more than 28,000 AC units throughout the province.

To help make sure renters have access to the program, the Residential Tenancy Branch has recently provided more clarity surrounding the installation of AC units. This includes encouraging renters and landlords to work together to safely install AC units, and updated policy clarifying that it is prohibited for landlords to ban AC units in rental agreements without a rational basis or safety concern.

The Province, through BC Housing, is working with non-profit housing operators to support making housing safer for residents during times of extreme heat. This includes funding to support non-profit operators to purchase cooling supplies. Additionally, BC Housing has purchased an emergency inventory of cooling and clean-air items, such as 1,530 portable AC units, 2,500 portable fans and 2,500 cooling kits.