Heat wave hits mid-40s as Ontario makes AC legal for renters

A blistering heat wave is settling over Toronto this week, with temperatures expected to feel like the mid-40s through Thursday before easing into the weekend.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an orange-level heat warning for the city—a rarely issued alert meaning the impact will be "major and widespread" and last several days. Temperatures are forecast to reach 37°C in some areas, with humidex levels in the low-to-mid 40s, spiking to the high 40s Wednesday and Thursday, which are expected to be the hottest days. The warnings are expected to remain in place until late Friday and possibly into Saturday before conditions improve by Sunday.

Elders and people without air conditioning are most at risk during extreme heat. Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Michelle Murti, pointed to deaths across Europe linked to heat domes and cautioned that unhoused people, those with respiratory or heart conditions, and anyone unable to escape the heat face serious danger.

The City of Toronto has responded by extending pool hours and opening cooling centres across the city. Eight outdoor pools—including Sunnyside Gus Ryder, Alex Duff, and Giovanni Caboto—will stay open until 11:45 p.m. The city's heat relief network offers more than 500 cool spaces including libraries, community centres, malls, and splash pads.

On the policy front, Toronto is moving closer to heat protection for renters. During City Council's June 24-26 session, staff adopted a framework for a maximum indoor temperature bylaw, with 26°C as the benchmark. Council is directing the City Manager to report back by June 2027 with a proposed bylaw and implementation plan. The move builds on rules that came into effect June 1, requiring apartment buildings without in-unit air conditioning to offer tenants access to cooled common areas during the hottest months.