NDP proposes home-heating rebate for Newfoundland and Labrador's low-income earners

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Keeping warm during a Newfoundland and Labrador winter can be tough on low-income earners, New Democratic Party Leader Alison Coffin said at a news conference on Thursday.

“Seniors, students, minimum-wage earners and single parents are some of the people in our province who are struggling to pay their bills,” Coffin said. “Costs are going up faster than wages. People need to get more support and right now they are not getting it.”

While at the headquarters of Jim Dinn, NDP candidate for St. John’s Centre, Coffin announced her party would establish a rebate program that will give up to $250 for heating bills to households making less than $40,000 a year. Residents of coastal Labrador would be eligible for up to $500.

Related 

• Tories vow to stand up for Newfoundland and Labrador oil and gas sector 
• Liberals promise in vitro fertilization clinic in Newfoundland and Labrador

“People simply cannot choose to go without heat,” she said. “New Democrats want to help people with the growing cost of expenses like heat before preventable problems become bigger and less manageable.”

Coffin said the program would provide a rebate toward the heating bill of more than 70,000 families in the province.

“Our province is stronger when we choose to take care of one another,” she said. “Yes, we need a plan for the future, but we also need to make sure people can pay their heating costs right now.”

The proposed rebate is the exact amount of money previously available for households making less than $40,000 a year under the home heating rebate program, which was axed by the Liberal party five years ago.

‘As important as food and water’

As she left the podium, Coffin introduced Edward Sawdon, a retired government worker and longtime NDP member.

Sawdon is originally from Ontario but has lived in Newfoundland and Labrador for 21 years. He said he used to be eligible for the previous rebate before it was cut in 2016.

“It was helpful because myself, living alone, and also people (with) families, couples, have to struggle, especially during the winter months,” he said. “Electricity … is essential. It’s as important as food and water.”

Sawdon said an extra $250 would help offset the high cost of his light bill.

“The other factor … is that there’s a lot people, persons with disabilities, who really rely on electricity, not for heat, not just for cooking … or lights, it’s also to help them live independent lives with medical devices that rely on electricity,” he said. “Personally, I have a nasal CPAP for sleep apnea. I require electricity to operate the little CPAP machine.”

Population retention

If people can’t afford to live in the province, they will continue to leave, Coffin said.

While the cost of the proposed program will be approximately $15 million annually, she says that money will come from making “better choices.”

“(That) means putting money back into the hands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” Coffin said. “Instead of, say, putting $40 million into the West White Rose project, with no guarantee those jobs are going to be there, let’s put that money into the hands of the people who need it right now and insure they can heat their homes, and then maybe they’ll be in a better place and be able to engage in new types of jobs, in other activities and will be able to use the savings to contribute back to our local economy.”

“New Democrats want to help people with the growing cost of expenses like heat before preventable problems become bigger and less manageable.” — Alison Coffin

Coffin said by realigning where the government puts money, it can realign jobs as well.

“Lots and lots of people have transferrable skills that we can move into other sectors, so there is going to be growth,” Coffin said. “When we start thinking about things in a more broad perspective we also need to make a plan to help that transition happen.”

With regard to health-care spending, Coffin said the NDP will look more at prevention rather than cuts.

“By providing better dental care for seniors, it means that seniors are not going to have to go to (the emergency room) for a toothache and they’re not going to have additional problems associated with poor dental health,” she said.

[email protected] |@AndrewLWaterman