Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. to provide up to 8,000 free air conditioners to low-income, vulnerable people

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Jun, 2023 03:39 PM
  • B.C. to provide up to 8,000 free air conditioners to low-income, vulnerable people

The British Columbia government is giving its Crown power utility $10 million to provide up to 8,000 free air-conditioning units to vulnerable people. 

A death review panel by the BC Coroners Service found that most of the 619 people who died in B.C.'s heat dome event in 2021 were low-income and vulnerable people who were aged 60 or older. 

One of the key recommendations from the panel was that the government provide air-conditioning units to those living in single-room apartments.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said Tuesday that the funding to BC Hydro will provide up to 8,000 air-conditioning units over the next three years, but if demand increases, that number could also go up. 

Dix said people can apply for the units on their own or health officials working with elderly people will be able to help them get a unit. 

Hydro president Chris O'Reilly said the utility will also offer all customers $50 off purchases of qualified, energy-saving air-conditioning units.

The death review panel released last June said most of those who died had compromised health and lived alone.

Dix said the program is a good and necessary step. 

"This is, by standards on the Pacific coast anyway, an ambitious program that will help keep people safe," said Dix, noting that cities such as Montreal and Chicago have previously experienced deadly heat events.

"What we have here is a comprehensive response," he said. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Eby close to calling byelections in ridings once held by former premier, minister

Eby close to calling byelections in ridings once held by former premier, minister
Eby says he will announce the dates for byelections in Greater Victoria's Langford-Juan de Fuca riding and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside Vancouver-Mount Pleasant constituency "very shortly."  

Eby close to calling byelections in ridings once held by former premier, minister

Innovative program helps B.C. patients with overdose-related brain injuries

Innovative program helps B.C. patients with overdose-related brain injuries
Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside says her ministry has earmarked $1.2 million toward the Cognitive Assessment and Rehabilitation for Substance Use program, which is offered by Vancouver Coastal Health through a multidisciplinary team at Richmond Hospital.

Innovative program helps B.C. patients with overdose-related brain injuries

Aldergrove man charged with manufacturing firearms and drug possession 

Aldergrove man charged with manufacturing firearms and drug possession 
Police say he was arrested on Tuesday but has been released on court-imposed conditions until his next appearance. Investigators from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit - British Columbia say their investigation began in November 2020. 

Aldergrove man charged with manufacturing firearms and drug possession 

Home set on fire in Richmond

Home set on fire in Richmond
They released surveillance footage of a man pouring flammable liquid on the front door of a home before setting it on fire around 3 A-M on March 27th. Police say a 23-year-old resident of the home was able to extinguish the fire, leaving the home with what they say was relatively minor damage.

Home set on fire in Richmond

Seizure of rifles near Quesnel

Seizure of rifles near Quesnel
The B-C Conservation Officer Service says three rifles have been seized and four people are under investigation after the carcass of a grizzly bear was found near Quesnel. The post says there is an open season for black bears but there is no such season for grizzlies.  

Seizure of rifles near Quesnel

BC offers rebates on new E-bikes

BC offers rebates on new E-bikes
Starting in June, rebates on an approved e-bike will be available to B-C residents older than 19 and will be based on income. Rebates will range from 350 dollars to a maximum of 14-hundred dollars.

BC offers rebates on new E-bikes