Ottawa MPP to table bill requiring apartments, condos to have generators

The derecho windstorm in May 2022 left more than 10,000 Ottawa residents without power for days. Many of those living in multi-level apartment and condo buildings were stuck without an operational elevator or running water.

Ottawa West-Nepean NDP Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Chandra Pasma wants to change that with a bill requiring condo corporations and apartment building landlords to install generators to run at least one elevator, lights in common areas and water pumps during a power outage. 

Pasma said the power outage in May had devastating impacts on some of the residents in her riding, including Lynn Ashdown, a woman who uses a wheelchair who was trapped in her apartment without access to water, food or medical care for 10 days. Speaking with thousands of residents in her area, Pasma said they were surprised to hear there isn't a law already in place.

“It's actually kind of amazing hearing all these stories that nobody has died from being without access to food or medical care, or from a dangerous fall coming down flights of stairs in the dark,” said Pasma on The Sam Laprade Show. “What we have is a situation where the people who can least afford it to pay the costs. It's our seniors on fixed incomes, it's people living with disabilities, it's parents of small children who are being kept in absolutely horrific situations.”

While so many apartment building are owned by “incredibly profitable landlords,” according to Pasma, people with mobility issues are stuck relying on the generosity of friends, family and neighbours to get them through an emergency situation. 

On Feb. 22, Pasma will be tabling the private members bill “Protecting Human Rights in an Emergency Act, with the support of Hydro Ottawa CEO Bryce Conrad, Toronto City Council and Ottawa City Councillor Sean Devine.

However, when Devine and Pasma brought the bill in front of Ottawa City Council, Devine's motion to support the bill was rejected, with many opposed citing a lack of details or sufficient costing to provide an adequate assessment of the bill. Councillors Laine Johnson, Jessica Bradley, Riley Brockington and Stéphanie Plante voted in favour of the motion.

Pasma is hopeful the bill will be better received at the provincial level, as the question of protecting human rights is at stake.

“Are you on the side of our seniors, people with disabilities and parents? Or are on the side of landlords who just don't want to bother installing the generator,” asked Pasma.

Listen to the full interview with Ottawa West-Nepean MPP Chandra Pasma on The Sam Laprade Show.