Housing advocates in Calgary are calling on city council to adopt a bylaw that limits indoor temperatures in rental suites to 26 °C,mirroring a recent measure in New Westminster, B.C. The proposal also seeks free portable air‑conditioning for low‑income renters while the mayor warns it could strain housing affordability.

Acorn’s 26 °C cap targets older rental suites without cooling

Acorn, a local housing‑rights group, says the bylaw would require landlords to keep at least one room in a rental unit at or below 26 °C during the hottest hours. The group argues that many older apartments lack built‑in cooling, leaving tenants exposed to indoor heat that can exceed 30 °C, as described by board member Abi Martin, who fainted in her ninth‑floor Beltline apartment.

New Westminster’s precedent: 26 °C rule from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Calgary’s push follows New Westminster’s bylaw, which obliges landlords to maintain a room at 26 °C between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. and forbids blocking portable coolers. According to the report, council there approved the rule unanimously but delayed implementation to work with landlords on affordable compliance options such as shading and heat pumps.

Mayor Farkas raises affordability red flag

Mayor Jeromy Farkas said he is open to the idea but worries that mandating cooling could raise operating costs for landlords, potentially reducing the supply of affordable housing. He noted that any added expense might push vulnerable renters into more precarious situations.

Public‑health voices demand urgent action

Jared Blustein,executive director of the Calgary Climate Hub, called the temperature issue an emerging pulic‑health crisis.. Jacqueline Wilson of the Canadian Environmental Law Association slammed the mayor’s hesitation, urging a health‑first approach to prevent heat‑related deaths like the 66 fatalities recorded acorss Alberta during the 2021 heat dome.

Who will fund free air‑conditioners for low‑income tenants?

Acorn’s plan includes providing free portable AC units to low‑income renters until landlords meet the temperature standard. The report does not specify the funding source , leaving a key question about municipal budgeting and whether provincial or federal climate funds might be tapped.

Unresolved questions about enforcement and landlord compliance

Two specific uncertainties remain : first, how Calgary will monitor compliance with a 26 °C cap in private units; second, whether landlords will receive subsidies or tax breaks to offset equipment costs . the source notes that New Westminster is still negotiating affordable compliance pathways, suggesting Calgary could face similar hurdles.