Houston government leaving Nova Scotians in the cold

HALIFAX – Today, NSNDP Critic for Service Nova Scotia Susan Leblanc made the following statement about this year’s Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP) which opens today, October 1:

“Nova Scotians should be able to count on their government to make life more affordable, not cut the programs they rely on. But today, thanks to a cut from the Houston government, thousands of Nova Scotians are being left out of the HARP program they count on to keep them warm each winter.

Last year, 64,000 Nova Scotians struggling to afford their heating costs were denied HARP because the Houston government changed the rules to make them ineligible. Those who could still qualify got $200 less. The department then left a third of its HARP budget unspent – money that could have made a real difference to the thousands of Nova Scotians who depend on this help.

Since last year, the cost of heating oil has skyrocketed by 47 per cent. That means this winter more families, seniors, and others just trying to keep warm will be making incredibly tough decisions as they try to afford to heat their home on top of paying for groceries, housing and other rising costs. Many will not be able to do it.

As Nova Scotians face another cold winter, we call on the Houston government to reverse cuts to HARP and make sure people can afford to heat their homes.”

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