Editor:
As we face the growing threats of climate change, one of the most urgent solutions is the transition to heat pumps in every household. Heat pumps can heat and cool homes using electricity, drastically reducing our reliance on toxic fossil fuels like oil and gas. This transition is not just about energy—it’s about protecting vulnerable populations. Extreme heat events put vulnerable populations at risk. In the B.C. heat dome of 2021, 619 people, many of whom were seniors, died in homes without cooling systems. Heat pumps can save lives by providing life-saving air conditioning during heatwaves.
A Universal Heat Pump Program, available to both homeowners and renters, would ensure that everyone in Canada has access to this life-saving technology. The benefits are clear: healthier homes, lower utility bills, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The federal government must act now to bring this program to life with a new public entity that builds, installs, and distributes free heat pumps for all.
Bonnie Klein, Roberts Creek
