Summary#
The Safe Indoor Temperatures Act would require certain buildings in Nova Scotia to have cooling systems during the summer. The systems would generally need to keep occupied indoor areas at 26°C or below from June 1 to September 30. The bill appears intended to reduce health risks from extreme indoor heat, especially for people in care homes and other vulnerable settings.
- It would apply to long-term care homes, multi-unit residential buildings, and public buildings such as government, educational, and health-care facilities.
- Building owners would have to install, maintain, and operate suitable cooling systems.
- Owners would have to take additional steps when cooling systems fail or when buildings house people especially vulnerable to extreme heat.
- Tenants could complain to a municipal inspector. Inspectors could issue orders requiring owners to fix violations.
- Owners could face fines of up to $10,000, with a possible separate offence for each day a violation continues.
- Many important details would be set by future regulations, including exemptions, measurement methods, temporary exceptions, and phased compliance.
What it means for you#
- Residents of multi-unit buildings: Your building would generally need to keep occupied areas at 26°C or below during the summer period. The bill does not apply to a private home that is not part of a covered building.
- Condominium owners: The bill would apply to common areas in condominium buildings. It would not normally apply inside an individual unit unless that unit is owned by the condominium corporation.
- Tenants: Landlords could not unreasonably interfere with cooling required by the bill or charge a separate fee just for installing, maintaining, or making the system available.
- Tenants who pay their own electricity: If a cooling system serves only the unit, is controlled by the occupant, and uses that unit’s electrical service, the occupant would be responsible for the extra electricity cost.
- Residents and occupants: Building owners would have to provide information and records about cooling systems as required by future regulations. Anyone could make a complaint to an inspector.
- Long-term care residents and other vulnerable people: Their buildings would face additional requirements, which could include backup systems, heat-reduction measures, and staff training. The exact requirements are not yet stated.
- Building owners and municipalities: Owners would have new equipment, maintenance, record-keeping, and compliance duties. Each municipality would have to designate an employee as an inspector.
- Timing: The Act would not start until the provincial government proclaims it. The bill does not set a start date.
Expenses#
The bill may create costs for building owners, municipalities, and occupants, but no overall cost estimate is provided.
- Building owners: They may have to buy, install, maintain, repair, and operate cooling systems. Costs could vary based on the building, its existing equipment, and future regulations.
- Long-term care homes, hospitals, and similar buildings: Additional costs could result from backup cooling, heat-mitigation measures, monitoring, and staff training.
- Municipalities: Municipalities may face inspection, complaint-handling, and enforcement costs.
- Occupants: Occupants who control a unit-specific cooling system and pay the unit’s electricity bill may pay higher utility costs when using it.
- Fines: A person who breaks the Act or its regulations could face a fine of up to $10,000. The regulations could set a lower amount.
- What is unclear: The bill does not provide funding for owners or municipalities, estimate lost revenue, or state how much compliance would cost.
Proponents' View#
- The bill appears intended to protect people from dangerous indoor heat during the summer.
- Requiring cooling in long-term care homes, public buildings, and multi-unit housing could improve indoor comfort and safety.
- Additional rules for buildings housing people vulnerable to extreme heat could provide stronger protection for those residents.
- Complaint and inspection powers could give occupants a way to seek action when a building is too hot.
- Allowing different requirements and temporary exemptions could let the rules account for different building types and unusual circumstances.
Opponents' View#
- One concern is the cost of installing and operating cooling systems, especially for older buildings and smaller building owners.
- Municipalities would have new inspection and enforcement duties, but the bill does not identify funding or staffing support.
- Many important requirements would be left to future regulations. Until those rules are written, it is unclear how temperatures would be measured, what equipment would qualify, and which buildings could be exempt.
- The bill allows fines for each day an offence continues. This could create significant financial exposure for owners who cannot quickly repair equipment or meet a compliance order.
- The bill does not clearly explain how it would handle buildings where installing cooling equipment is technically difficult or where electrical capacity is limited.
- Temporary exemptions are available, but the process, approval standards, and maximum length of an exemption would be set by future regulations or by inspectors.