Whereas the Province of British Columbia announced updates to the BC Building Code in 2023, effective March 8, 2024, which requires that all new residential buildings provide at least one living space in each dwelling unit designed to remain at or below 26C; And whereas this measure aims to protect health and comfort in extreme heat conditions, marking a step toward climate-resilient, thermally safe housing for new builds across the province; And whereas in response to rising temperatures and an increase in extreme heat events, a right to cool for residents to access indoor cooling solutions to safeguard their health and comfort has emerged as an essential component of housing policy, particularly for individuals living in multi-unit residential buildings, where access to adequate active or passive cooling systems may be restricted by strata bylaws or structural limitations: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to amend the Strata Property Act to recognize and enshrine a right to cool as a fundamental right for residents of strata and multi-unit residential buildings to access cooling solutions, including the installation of air conditioning or heat pumps or passive cooling approaches without unreasonable restrictions from strata corporations; And be it further resolved that the Province likewise recognize a right to cool as an essential component of provincial housing policy, including but not limited to creating provincial incentives for strata owners to install heat pumps and other cooling measures to ensure that climate-resilient, thermally safe housing is available for all residents of British Columbia.
