Extreme heat is deadly. Because of the 2021 heat dome, 619 people died in BC—98% of them were indoors. There were 18 deaths in Greater Victoria. You have the power to put in place safety measures to ensure this does not happen again.

We know that Oak Bay is highly vulnerable to extreme heat events based on both demographic factors and the buildings in our area, as documented on the CRD Regional Heat Map​. This vulnerability is greatest around Oak Bay Village, Fort and Foul Bay, and along Beach Drive near Spewhung/Turkey Head, all areas with concentrations of rental buildings. While landlords have long been required to provide adequate heating, it is essential that they also provide adequate cooling.

With extreme heat events on the rise, we call on you as our elected representatives to pass a Right to Cool bylaw in Oak Bay, mandating that landlords must ensure that at least one room in every rental unit can be kept at or below 26°C. Furthermore, we ask you to ensure this bylaw is crafted and implemented to reduce the risk of potential adverse consequences, such as renovictions, rent increases, increased greenhouse gas emissions, higher utility bills, and higher risk of power outages during heat events. We also call on you to guarantee local cooling spaces (under 26°C) are publicly accessible at all hours during extreme heat events, and that there is a system in place to alert residents about where these cooling spaces are.