Toronto City Council recently shortened the mandatory heating season for rental units from September 15 – June 1 to October 1 – May 15. This leaves thousands of tenants vulnerable to cold snaps in late May and September, when overnight temperatures often drop to near freezing.

Seniors, families, and residents of older or poorly insulated buildings are especially at risk. Portable heaters are often unsafe or inadequate, and low-income tenants cannot always afford extra heating costs.

We are calling on Deputy Mayor & Councillor Mike Colle and Toronto City Council to amend the bylaw by adding a shoulder-season cold-weather trigger:

Between May 15 – June 1 and September 15 – October 1, landlords must provide heat if outdoor temperatures fall below a reasonable threshold (for example, 15°C daily low or average).

This small but critical adjustment would protect tenants during unpredictable weather, reflect the reality of climate change (which means greater volatility, not just warming), and uphold Toronto’s commitment to health-conscious and equitable policymaking.

Please sign this petition to ensure that no one in Toronto is left cold and unsafe during transitional months. Together, we can push City Council to make housing policy fairer and more humane.