Advocates in Hamilton are concerned after the city deferred the approval of its extreme heat response strategy to June, when high heat may already be present.

Members of Environment Hamilton and tenant advocacy organization ACORN say air conditioning is a crucial step to protect the most vulnerable people during really hot weather, and delaying it could put people at risk during hot days that we could experience in the next few weeks.

Environment Hamilton says last year we saw our first extreme heat warning around this time in May, so they wanted to see measures put in place before the summer, adding that even if it’s passed in June it’ll take time to get the plan in motion.

The city’s heat response strategy won’t go into effect until next year, and advocates suggested these temporary measures be put in place before this summer.

Hamilton City Council approved other measures like free bus trips during extreme heat events.

But advocates are worried that a really important one was deferred, which is expanding an existing program with Ontario Works, that brings air conditioning units to people whose health is at risk and low-income households.

Environment Hamilton says that making sure vulnerable residents have air conditioning during extreme heat would have been most effective in preventing unnecessary death and suffering. And deferring it to June puts them at risk if there’s an extreme heat event before that.

Among other measures, the city’s heat response strategy includes developing an adequate temperature by-law that would set a maximum temperature in apartments, similar to one in place that ensures temperatures must be at least 20 degrees in the winter.