Canadian authorities’ response to deadly heat ‘inadequate’: HRW

Human Rights Watch calls for better resources to help at-risk people after a deadly June heat wave in British Columbia.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticised authorities in Canada for what it called “inadequate” support for older people and individuals with disabilities who were hard-hit by a summer heatwave that killed hundreds in the western province of British Columbia (BC).

In a report released on Tuesday, the rights group called on the federal and BC provincial governments to prepare and provide better resources for vulnerable people before the next climate disaster.

HRW also urged the Canadian authorities to stop subsidising fossil fuels to help prevent “the most catastrophic climate outcomes”.