National Day of Action for Climate Justice

On May 28th, 2025, ACORN will launch our Environmental Tenant Justice Report, “Crumbling Apartments in a Warming World: Tenants Are in an Energy Cost Crisis.” The report sheds light on how climate change and energy costs are hitting low- and moderate-income tenants hardest. Tenants are more likely to live in poorly maintained buildings with outdated heating systems and no access to air conditioning. 

On May 28th, ACORN Canada will be hosting events across Canada:

Metro Vancouver: 12 P.M at BC Hydro Headquarters—333 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver, BC
Calgary: 11 A.M. at Calgary Municipal Building—800 Macleod Trl SE.
Hamilton: 1 P.M at  North/East corner of Barton St E.-Ottawa St N.
Toronto: 11 A.M. at Toronto City Hall—100 Queen St. W
Ottawa: 11 A.M. at Ottawa City Hall—110 Laurier Ave W
London: 12 P.M. at London City Hall—300 Dufferin Ave.
Peel Region: 5 P.M. at Mississauga Celebration Square—300 City Centre Dr.
Moncton: 12 P.M. at Victoria Park (south entrance)—223 Weldon St.
Fredericton: 12 P.M. at the Office of the Ministry of Energy - 1350 Regent St.

Among the report’s findings: 44% of tenants lack access to AC, only 19% have seen any energy efficiency repairs, and over 30% are paying more than half their income on rent and utilities. Of those tenants without access to cooling, nearly half state that it is because they cannot afford the cost of cooling to keep their homes safe and healthy.

On the day of the launch, ACORN members will hold coordinated actions across the country to deliver the report to housing and environmental ministers and demand policies that put tenant protections at the center of climate action.:

• Mandate max-heat bylaws in all cities across Canada.
• Mandated National Energy Poverty Programs like Ontario Energy Support Program (OESP) and the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)..
• Greater tenants protections on unit retrofits. Deals Must Include: 
  • Affordability & anti-eviction guarantees
  • Cooling + energy efficiency upgrades
  • Tenant-first repairs & improvements 
  • Transparent landlord agreements
  • Formal tenant participation
  • Signed Community Benefit Agreements between funders, landlords & tenants.