HALIFAX 鈥� Nova Scotia鈥檚 premier announced a new $115.4-million funding package Wednesday aimed at helping low- and middle-income earners with inflation.
The bulk of the one-time funding 鈥� $100 million 鈥� will go to the province鈥檚 heating assistance rebate program, Premier Tim Houston told reporters. The new money, he said, will increase the home heating rebate this winter to $1,000 from $200.
鈥淲e鈥檙e coming with real relief to help you heat your home,鈥� Houston said.
Houston said the maximum eligibility threshold for heating assistance is also being expanded to include households with net incomes of up to $85,000 鈥� a move expected to help 100,000 families.
鈥淭ime and again I hear from people who tell me they just missed qualifying,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese folks are far from wealthy but they are falling through the cracks 鈥� so we are expanding access so it can support more people during the winter.鈥�
The previous threshold for assistance under the heating rebate program was $29,000 for a single person and $44,000 for households.
Government officials said the 34,000 households that have already received assistance this year under the heating program will receive a payment in the new year to bring them up to the new $1,000 allotment. The expanded program opens to new applications on Jan. 30.
As well, $6.7 million will go toward one-time payments of $250 to Nova Scotians on income assistance and of $1,000 to full-time foster families. Officials said the income assistance payments would be extended to 23,000 cases administered by the Department of Community Services.
The remaining $8.7 million in the new funding envelope is earmarked for grants to community organizations, such as food banks, family resource centres and transition houses. The organizations are to receive funding within a week and they won鈥檛 have to apply.
The Opposition Liberals and the NDP welcomed the financial assistance, saying the threshold adjustment to the heating program will make a difference during the winter months.
However, Liberal affordability critic Braedon Clark said the government needs more of a vision when it comes to supporting those who need help. 鈥淭hresholds for all government programs substantially need to change,鈥� Clark said. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 just do it one time and piecemeal and expect that鈥檚 going to make a difference.鈥�
NDP Leader Claudia Chender said the expansion of the heating program is something her party has advocated for months.
鈥淥ne-time is better than nothing, but our advocacy will be focused on ensuring that this is the beginning of a comprehensive look at the way this government can support Nova Scotians through this cost-of-living crisis,鈥� Chender said.
The new funding follows an announcement Tuesday during which the government committed $140 million over the next four years for energy efficiency programs to help low- and middle-income homeowners end their use of heating oil.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 14, 2022.
Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press
