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Unionized elementary school teachers in Ontario say this week’s heat wave has made conditions in many classrooms “unbearable” and it’s taking a toll on students who are stuck in schools without air conditioning

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario says the extreme temperatures affect children’s ability to learn and can cause health issues.

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The union is calling on the province to take steps to relieve the heat, which could include installing air conditioning systems or setting up cooling stations.

It says all schools should have a heat stress plan and a maximum indoor temperature limit after which they must take action, including shutting down for the day if necessary.

While we recognize that air conditioning can be expensive, there are significant costs in not fixing the problem Sam Hammond

Much of southern Ontario is under a heat warning, with Environment Canada calling for temperatures above 30 C. Cooler weather is expected later this week.

“While we recognize that air conditioning can be expensive, there are significant costs in not fixing the problem. The current haphazard approach compromises teaching and learning conditions and can have serious health impacts for children and staff including asthma,” said Sam Hammond, the union’s president.