September 22, 2017
Amara McLaughlin
CBC News
Midtown resident Jamie Thom says the temperature in his apartment has climbed into the high 30s after his landlord shut off the building’s air conditioning last week. (Martin Trainor/CBC)
Toronto’s ombudsman has opened an investigation into the bylaw governing the heating and cooling of the city’s apartment buildings. Some landlords have reportedly turned off the air conditioning during a late September heat wave that has settled over the region — with temperatures expected to rise above 30 C this weekend.
Local councillors Joe Mihevic and Josh Matlow have urged landlords to turn the air conditioning back on in their buildings and voiced concerns over the clarity of the bylaw. With the extreme temperatures expected to continue, Environment Canada and Toronto Public Health are also monitoring temperatures to ensure public safety.