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Department of Finance should extend fuel tank assistance program March 9, 2007
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Kelvin Parsons, MHA for the District Burgeo-Lapoile, is calling on the Minister of Finance to extend the fuel tank replacement assistance program for low income families to help offset replacement costs of domestic fuel tanks. New regulations were announced in 2002 that would strengthen safety requirements for domestic fuel tanks. As a result of these recommendations, fuel tanks were to be inspected, registered and upgraded by March 31st, 2007. This deadline has now been extended to March 31st, 2009. Meanwhile, an assistance program was also unveiled in the 2002 budget to help low income earners offset the cost of upgrading their fuel tanks. This program has not been extended and many are concerned they will be forced to pay the full cost of new fuel tanks before the 2009 deadline. AI have received numerous calls from concerned constituents who were not aware that the fuel tank replacement assistance program has not been extended,@ said Mr. Parsons. AIt makes no sense for government to extend the deadline to register fuel tanks until 2009, without extending the assistance program as well. Does one department know what the other is doing? AIt is obvious that this issue must be addressed. Both of these programs go hand in hand and it is not acceptable to make low income earners suffer because of inadequate co-ordination between government departments. If the decision was made to extend the timeframe until 2009 to register fuel tanks, the assistance program should also be extended. Unless government addresses this issue before March 31st, many low income earners will be penalized as a result of the inaction of this government. This will once again demonstrate government=s lack of knowledge, commitment and action on poverty issues in this province.@ |
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