Mayor Olivia Chow proposes review of Toronto’s heat strategy amid calls to reopen 24/7 cooling centres for unhoused residents as extreme heat grips the city.
Mayor Proposes Review Amid Rising Temperatures
As Toronto faces its first major heat wave of the year, Mayor Olivia Chow has submitted a motion urging city council to review the city’s current heat relief strategy. Temperatures have surged above 30°C, with humidex values reaching the 40s, prompting renewed public health concerns.
Strategy Under Fire from Advocates
The city’s current heat plan directs residents to over 500 public buildings, including libraries, pools, and community centres, as designated relief spaces. However, advocates argue these facilities are neither open overnight nor accessible to unhoused individuals. They are calling for the immediate return of 24/7 cooling centres, last operated in 2019.
Community Groups Call Response Inadequate
Lorraine Lam, a member of the Shelter Housing and Justice Network, criticized the strategy as “shamefully inadequate,” stating that unhoused people have nowhere to safely escape the heat. “We don’t need another review. Just open up the cooling centres now,” Lam urged.
Council to Debate Motion This Week
The motion, titled “Addressing Gaps in the City’s Heat Relief Strategy,” will be considered at the council meeting beginning Wednesday. It directs the city manager to complete a full review by the fourth quarter of 2025. Chow acknowledged shortcomings in the current approach, emphasizing that all residents, housed or unhoused, must be protected.
City’s Current Measures and Their Limits
In response to the heat wave, the city has added 100 shelter beds, deployed water trailers, and supplied outreach teams with bottled water. Yet Lam argues these actions are minimal and temporary. “Water trailers are a small Band-Aid. This is a much bigger issue,” she said, calling for permanent solutions such as water access across all communities.
Past Review Cited as Justification for Closures
The city previously cited a 2018 review by Toronto Public Health, which found the former cooling centres underutilized and difficult to access. Centres only operated on heat alert days, and many vulnerable people reportedly did not identify themselves as eligible users.
Proposed Solutions in the Mayor’s Motion
The mayor’s motion includes several recommendations: appointing a Chief Heat Officer, distributing 500,000 water bottles through local agencies, identifying key water distribution sites, and ensuring nurses support extended pool hours during heat events.
Homeless Population Faces High Exposure Risk
According to recent city data, 10,251 people are experiencing homelessness in Toronto. On average, 148 individuals were turned away nightly from shelters in May, as demand outpaced capacity. Chow stressed the need for timely intervention: “This review will help us protect lives during future heat events.”
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