B.C. premier addresses extreme heat response and planning [Video]

On the two-year anniversary of the deadliest weather event in Canadian history, B.C.’s premier acknowledged that while much work has been done to respond to extreme heat events, more is needed.

David Eby touted the expansion of cooling systems in care homes, public housing and schools, as well as a new emergency response and alerting system, but said even the announcement of free air conditioning for at-risk people still doesn’t go far enough to address the risks of extreme heat evidenced by the fatal 2021 heat dome. 

“The work is certainly not done, we have a lot more work to do,” he replied when CTV News asked if he felt the response in the wake of the unprecedented heat was sufficient.

“I want to assure British Columbians that we’re approaching it in a very systematic way, working through from the highest-risk areas that require our first priority,” said Eby, adding that the heat dome tragedy that saw 619 people die from hyperthermia was a key factor in …