Members of a tenants’ rights advocacy group met in downtown Moncton, N.B., Wednesday morning as part of an international movement to push governments to prevent heat-related deaths. Around a dozen people from the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) rallied on Main Street before noon with temperatures set to soar in the city for the organization’s Beat the Heat Day of Action. Moncton was one of 11 Canadian cities where rallies were held, including in Halifax and Fredericton. ACORN co-chair Peter Jongeneelen said the event was about calling attention to extreme heat events around the world and looking for solutions for people that are most vulnerable. “People who are seniors, young children, the disabled, those who are on low-income. A lot of cases they struggle with extreme heat every year and many don’t have the means or funds available to actually have any form of air conditioning in their units,” said Jongeneelen. ACORN member Carla Robinson lives downtown and is on a fixed income. Robinson spoke during the rally saying she recently spent $100 on an old ice conditioner even though that came out of her grocery budget. “I personally had to go purchase a second-hand air conditioner to beat the heat this summer and it took away from my grocery money. So, it’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation here in the Maritimes,” said Robinson. She also said she doesn’t remember it being this hot growing up in Moncton. “Seeing seniors suffering because they’re afraid to turn on their air conditioning unit because they can’t afford the hydro bill as it is,” noted Robinson. ACORN is demanding the province introduce a no-cost air conditioner program for low-income renters, energy rebates for low to moderate-income ratepayers, upgrades to rental units to reduce dangerous temperatures inside and cooling centres opened by municipalities for days when conditions are extreme. Jongeneelen said he was hospitalized last June with heat exhaustion when the temperature outside was 30 C and it was almost as warm inside his home. He said it’s hard for people living on a low income to purchase air conditioners, even second-hand ones. “It’s a real problem,” said Jongeneelen. He also stressed the need for cooling centres that can be activated for the homeless. This was the second year in a row ACORN members have gathered to bring awareness to people living in extreme heat conditions. “We have out of the cold shelters in the winter, but we don’t have any emergency cooling stations that are currently be set up for Moncton,” said Jongeneelen. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
