Standardizing the Air Conditioner Benefit (Pilot)

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The decision

2026-05-20 · Toronto City Council · amended

As filed

City Council on May 20 and 21, 2026, adopted the following: 1. City Council increase the 2026 Operating Budget for Environment, Climate and Forestry by $1,060,000 gross and $0 net, fully funded from the Corporate Extreme Weather Reserve (XQ1408), to support standardization where appropriate of the issuance of portable Air Conditioners to residents eligible for the City's Air Conditioner Assistance Program, the City's Hardship Fund and the Ontario Works Discretionary Benefit Program (OW and ODSP).

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2. City Council in accordance with Section 71-11.1C of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 71, Financial Control, authorize an amendment to Blanket Contract Number 4300000099, competitively awarded under nRFP Doc5443909641, issued to CLEAResult Canada Inc. for additional supply, delivery and installation of portable air conditioners by $1,041,667 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($1,060,000 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries), revising the current Blanket Contract value from $1,092,200 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($1,111,422 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) to $2,133,867 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($2,171,423 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries). 3. City Council direct the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, in coordination with Toronto Community Housing Corporation and Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation, to distribute air conditioners procured by the City to vulnerable tenants, with a focus on seniors within those housing providers, and, where appropriate, utilize the CLEAResult Canada Inc. procurement for any increased quantity of deliverables in accordance with nRFP Doc5443909641. 4. City Council authorize the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, or designate, to negotiate and execute an amendment to the existing agreement between the City of Toronto and CLEAResult Canada (Agreement Between City and Supplier for nRFP Doc5443909641) in accordance with Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 195, Procurement, necessary to facilitate implementation of Parts 2 and 3 above. 5. City Council direct the City Manager to consolidate the requests that City Council has made to the Provincial and Federal Government around tenant supports, rent increases, incentives to retrofit buildings and other issues within their jurisdiction that would support the implementation of a Maximum Temperature By-law and re-transmit them to the appropriate level of government. 6. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards or designate, to report back to the June 24, 25, 26, 2026 meeting of City Council with a framework for implementation of a maximum heat bylaw, with alignment to implementation timelines in accordance with maximum temperature legislation in other municipalities, including New Westminster and New York City, and to request to the Government of Ontario approve an exemption to Above Guideline rent increases for any costs incurred in alignment with a future maximum heat by-law, and convene a Stakeholder Working Group to further this process.

The vote

Adopt Item as Amended · Carried, 23-1

Against (1)Stephen Holyday

Absent (2)Chris Moise, James Pasternak

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On the agenda

As the city filed it

Extreme heat and its impacts on human health is one of the City of Toronto's most urgent climate hazards, now and for the future. As the City adapts, immediate measures are needed to address the health and safety risks for those most vulnerable to impacts of heat, such as older adults. In December 2025, staff reported to City Council on a series of strategies to protect Toronto residents against extreme heat, including an update on the Air Conditioner Assistance program.

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At that time, Council directed staff to consider avenues to enhance access to the City's Hardship Fund. The City's Hardship Fund assists with the cost of certain medically based items/services, including cooling devices (air conditioners), for low-income Toronto residents who are not receiving assistance from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program. By leveraging funds secured through the 2026 budget, and an additional $1,060,000 from the Corporate Extreme Weather Reserve, this report recommends expanding and harmonizing air conditioner benefits across the City's various program offerings to low-income and vulnerable residents, including applicants to the City's Hardship Fund, recipients of Ontario Works/Ontario Disability Support Program benefits, and tenants across Toronto Community Housing Corporation and Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation buildings. This allows for up to 2400 air conditioners to be supplied and installed during the summer of 2026. The report also provides an update on the work to develop a maximum indoor temperature by-law. The report was developed in consultation with the Housing Secretariat, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Employment and Social Services, and Toronto Community Housing Corporation.

Staff recommended

The Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, the Executive Director, Social Development, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards and the Chief Procurement Officer recommend that: 1. City Council increase the 2026 Operating Budget for Environment, Climate and Forestry by $1,060,000 gross and $0 net, fully funded from the Corporate Extreme Weather Reserve (XQ1408), to support standardization where appropriate of the issuance of portable Air Conditioners to residents eligible for the City's Air Conditioner Assistance Program, the City's Hardship Fund and the Ontario Works Discretionary Benefit Program (OW and ODSP).

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2. City Council in accordance with Section 71-11.1C of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 71 (Financial Control By-Law), authorize an amendment to Blanket Contract Number 4300000099, competitively awarded under nRFP Doc5443909641, issued to CLEAResult Canada Inc. for additional supply, delivery and installation of portable air conditioners by $1,041,667 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($1,060,000 net of HST recoveries), revising the current Blanket Contract value from $1,092,200 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($1,111,422 net of HST recoveries) to $2,133,867 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($2,171,423 net of HST recoveries). 3. City Council direct the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, in coordination with Toronto Community Housing Corporation and Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation, to distribute air conditioners procured by the City to vulnerable tenants, with a focus on seniors within those housing providers, and, where appropriate, utilize the CLEAResult Canada Inc. procurement for any additional supply required.

Considered

2026-05-12 · Executive Committee · amended
Decision as filed
The Executive Committee recommends that: 1. City Council increase the 2026 Operating Budget for Environment, Climate and Forestry by $1,060,000 gross and $0 net, fully funded from the Corporate Extreme Weather Reserve (XQ1408), to support standardization where appropriate of the issuance of portable Air Conditioners to residents eligible for the City's Air Conditioner Assistance Program, the City's Hardship Fund and the Ontario Works Discretionary Benefit Program (OW and ODSP).
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2. City Council in accordance with Section 71-11.1C of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 71 (Financial Control By-Law), authorize an amendment to Blanket Contract Number 4300000099, competitively awarded under nRFP Doc5443909641, issued to CLEAResult Canada Inc. for additional supply, delivery and installation of portable air conditioners by $1,041,667 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($1,060,000 net of HST recoveries), revising the current Blanket Contract value from $1,092,200 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($1,111,422 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries) to $2,133,867 net of all applicable taxes and charges ($2,171,423 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries). 3. City Council direct the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, in coordination with Toronto Community Housing Corporation and Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation, to distribute air conditioners procured by the City to vulnerable tenants, with a focus on seniors within those housing providers, and, where appropriate, utilize the CLEAResult Canada Inc. procurement for any additional supply required. 4. City Council direct the City Manager to consolidate the requests that City Council has made to the Provincial and Federal Government around tenant supports, rent increases, incentives to retrofit buildings and other issues within their jurisdiction that would support the implementation of a Maximum Temperature By-law and re-transmit them to the appropriate level of government. 5. City Council request the Executive Director Municipal Licensing and Standards, as part of the ongoing development of the maximum temperature by-law, to consider recent examples of maximum temperature legislation in other municipalities, including New Westminster and New York City to inform Toronto's framework, and to bring the by-law forward for Council's consideration as per the direction in Item 2025.EX28.3.
2026-05-20 · Toronto City Council · amended

On the record

The item as the City filed it

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