Hot topic: mayor considers max temp for rental properties

Mayor Scott Gillingham says he’s open to exploring a call to set a maximum temperature for indoor rental units.

“I think we should be looking at that, as far as what the specifics would be … (In) our overall body of work, recently, we have been addressing the heat and making sure people have places to get out from under the heat,” said Gillingham.

Tenant and environmental groups have called for a maximum indoor rental unit heat limit that doesn’t exceed 26 C. A city bylaw does require landlords to maintain a minimum daytime temperature of 21 C during cold weather.

Gillingham noted the city has added 24-7 safe spaces, extended spray pad hours, opened libraries as cooling spaces and added drinking water stations to provide relief on very hot days.

City council is also debating whether developers of some major housing projects should be required to include some form of air conditioning.

“We have to make sure that, as our temperatures climb, that we have places that are cool for individuals in summertime, on days like today and the weekend we had,” he said.

In Winnipeg, the temperature soared to 35.3 C Sunday, with a humidex that made it feel like 48, according to Environment Canada.

The sizzling conditions continued Monday, when Manitobans hit a new high in summertime electricity use.

“The electricity load peaked at 3,751 megawatts (Monday) at 5 p.m. The temperature then was 33.9 C. With Manitoba Hydro powering air conditioning and fans to keep customers cool, that drove the peak (summer) load to a new height,” said Peter Chura, a Hydro spokesman.

The previous summertime peak was recorded on June 6, 2023, with 3,529 megawatts used at about 5 p.m., when the temperature was 31.4 C.

“These peak loads tend to happen at times of day when both residential and commercial electricity use overlaps. We had very high demand, also, on Sunday … but, with fewer businesses operating, the overall peak was a bit lower,” said Chura.

The province’s highest electricity use at one time took place in winter conditions, reaching 5,111 megawatts on Jan. 20, 2025, when the temperature was -32.7 C.

Manitoba Hydro’s total electricity capability is 6,074 megawatts.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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