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Anna Thistle, Opposition Finance Critic and MHA for the District of Grand
Falls - Buchans, says government must take immediate action to assist low
and fixed income earners in the province cope with high energy prices when
heating their homes. She says a home heating rebate program and the
elimination of HST for the winter months on home heating fuel and
electricity would provide essential relief for consumers. "I personally do
not understand why the Williams government continues to drag its feet and
delay the announcement of a strategy to deal with home heating costs," said
Thistle. "I have raised this issue a number of times and the Premier and
Ministers are not taking any action. A home heating rebate program should be
implemented to assist low and fixed income earners and the elimination of
HST on electricity and home heating fuel during winter will assist everyone
in the province.
"Nova Scotia just pledged $35 million for a program to supplement the
funding announced by the Federal government last week. That program will
provide rebates to all low income earners and seniors in Nova Scotia who
heat their homes with home heating oil, propane and electricity. The
government in this province has been aware of the problems associated with
high energy prices and should have developed a strategy by now to ease the
impact on consumers.
"I have advocated for the past two years for government to adopt a
permanent heating rebate program in this province. The program should
provide rebates to all low and fixed income individuals who use home heating
oil or electricity to heat their homes. As an opposition, we have also
called on government to expand the qualification criteria so that more
people can avail of this program who were previously excluded due to the
strict criteria."
The Liberal MHA says that government has the fiscal capacity to offer an
energy rebate to consumers due to the increased revenues associated with
high oil and gas prices. "The Williams government has received hundreds of
millions of dollars in windfall profits over the past two years due to the
high price of oil and gas. It is only fair that a small percentage of that
money is passed on to consumers.
"It is only a matter of time and government will have to announce details
of a home heating plan for residents of this province. I cannot understand
why it has taken so long for cabinet to make a decision while people are
forced to suffer the financial consequences of high energy costs. Instead of
forcing people to decide between heating their homes and feeding their
families, government should be stepping in immediately with an assistance
program. People are suffering as a result of skyrocketing prices for home
heating oil and electricity in this province and the government is not doing
anything to help."
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