How many people die from heat-related illness?

A CBC report examines why Canada does not have a clear national count of heatrelated deaths, even as heat waves intensify across several regions in July. The article explains that provinces and territories use different reporting systems, which makes it difficult to compare cases or know how many deaths are directly linked to extreme heat. Experts quoted in the story say heat deaths are often measured in different ways, including death certificates, medical examiner records, and estimates of excess mortality during hot periods. Because those methods do not always match, official figures can vary widely and may understate the real impact of extreme temperatures. The article also points to British Columbia’s 2021 heat dome, when initial reports suggested around 800 heatrelated deaths before the count settled closer to 600. Since then, B.C. has introduced new measures such as air conditioners for people in need and a standardized heat alert system. The piece concludes that better reporting is needed not only to track deaths, but also to understand heatrelated illness and evaluate whether public health responses are working.