B.C.'s low income renters thought they'd get free AC units, but some face hurdles

Advocates worry that requiring a landlord’s consent to obtain an air conditioner is putting up an unnecessary barrier.

Advocates worry that requiring a landlord’s consent to obtain an air conditioner is putting up an unnecessary barrier.

Health Minister Adrian Dix announced in late June that the government would provide $10 million to fund the purchase of up to 8,000 free air conditioners for low-income and vulnerable people over three years.

The program is part of the government’s solution to prevent further deaths in response to the 2021 heat dome, where more than 600 residents died as record-setting temperatures blanketed the province for days.

Susie Rieder, a spokeswoman for BC Hydro, the Crown corporation put in charge of the program, said it received more than 2,000 applications under the scheme and 1,200 had been approved.

Inderjit Singh Ghuman. heard about the program from the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), an advocacy group for lower-income renters of which he is a member.

But he realized he couldn’t apply because he doesn’t have his own BC Hydro account — his rent includes utilities.

“Now I am sad and so even like this month, there might be another heat wave coming. I think the government should consider (renters like) us,” said Ghuman.

Another Vancouver-area tenant told of her landlord “being a jerk” and impeding her application by trying to impose his own conditions. She didn’t want to be named for fear of being evicted.