Nova Scotians who waited months to receive heating rebates are dismayed the province has provided only 60 per cent of what they gave last year.
The heating assistance rebate program provides qualifying applicants with a one-time rebate to help with heating costs.
The maximum payment used to be $200, but the province decided to increase its rebate to $1,000 in 2022-23.
This year, that rebate dropped to $600.
For David Houston, his home in Wolfville, N.S., uses nearly $200 worth of electricity each month. He received the $1,000 payment last year, and was hoping to receive the same amount this year in light of the rising cost of living.
“It came in handy but it doesn’t scratch the surface,” he said about the money.
“I was thrown for bit in a loop but at the same time I was thankful because something is better than nothing.”
He says he’s “very thankful for the help” and said he considers himself lucky to be able to rent a place to live.
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At Province House, however, opposition parties say the cut in funding comes at a critical time.
“If it was needed last year, it’s needed this year. And it’s probably needed more this year. That’s disappointing for Nova Scotians and made things more difficult for Nova Scotians,” said Halifax Citadel-Sable Island MLA Lisa Lachance.
In response, Deputy Minister of the Department of Service Nova Scotia Joanne Munro told a legislature committee Wednesday that the department considered several options.
Ultimately, the department chose the $600 amount.
“It’s a matter of looking at how many Nova Scotians we can support. At the end of the day, our job is to provide options to the government, and (the premier will) make the decision, and they always have the affordability lens,” she said.
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