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Roland Butler, Opposition Human Resources, Labour and
Employment Critic and MHA for the District of Port de Grave, says high fuel
prices are having a negative impact on the ability of not-for-profit
organizations to provide services to many areas of the province and he wants
to know if government has a plan to deal with the emerging problems.
"Government must assess the impact that high energy prices are having on the
not-for-profit sector and develop a strategy to ease the burden on these
groups," said Butler. "Our office has been speaking with representatives of
several organizations and they tell us the situation will reach the breaking
point in the near future and services to people who need them will be
negatively impacted.
"High fuel prices are limiting the ability of organizations to purchase
goods or provide transportation for school meal programs, seniors, food
banks and other community activities. Many programs offered by this sector
are based on fixed budgets or fundraising activities that did not account
for the high price of gasoline or home heating fuel. Without a government
rebate or increased funding, the services provided by these groups will be
reduced or terminated due to the high price of fuel.
"I am asking Minister Joan Burke to take action to evaluate the impact of
high fuel prices on this sector and develop a strategy to deal with it
immediately. It is often seniors and low or fixed income members of this
province that avail of the services offered by non-for-profit groups and
protection of these services is essential.
"It is not acceptable for government to say that rising fuel prices is a
world-wide phenomenon that they are powerless to rectify. The provincial
government charges a considerable amount of taxes on gas and heating fuels
and their revenue is increasing as prices go up. It is not acceptable for
the most vulnerable in our society to be suffering while the government
profits from their hardship."
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