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HALIFAX — A significant cut to Nova Scotia’s home heating program was called out by the Opposition NDP leader on Wednesday, who said 46,000 fewer households are eligible for the rebate this year.
Claudia Chender said that with many people struggling with the cost of living and rising power rates, the government’s decision must be reversed.
Chender said the government needs to make better choices despite facing a projected $1.2-billion deficit this fiscal year. She said there needs to be a more “holistic” approach.
“What is the outcome when you kick 46,000 people who are relying on the heating assistance rebate program off of that program?” she asked reporters.
“There are health-care costs, there are social service costs … So I think it’s a much better investment for the government to make sure that people have the basics, that they can heat their homes, keep their lights on and pay their rent.”
She said the change to the program — which opened for applications as of Wednesday — was announced in a news release on Friday when few people were paying attention.
The government release says 118,287 applicants received the home heating rebate in the last fiscal year at a cost of $71 million, while as many as 72,000 households are expected to be helped this year at a cost of $32 million.
People on income assistance can apply for a rebate this year of up to $400, as can families earning a combined net income of up to $45,000 and single-person households with a net income up to $30,000, provided they pay for heat. Last year’s rebate was $600 and families that earned a net after-tax income of up to $75,000 or a single-person household earning a net income up to $55,000 were eligible to apply.
Service Nova Scotia Minister Jill Balser told reporters the change was made when the provincial budget for 2025-26 was tabled in mid-February, but interim Liberal leader Derek Mombourquette said it certainly wasn’t highlighted by government officials at the time.
“They have over a billion-dollar deficit and the sad reality is that one of the programs they are scaling back is one thousands of Nova Scotians count on to heat their homes at a time when their expenses are higher,” said Mombourquette.
Balser said the program has base funding of $32 million that had been topped up in previous years, but wasn’t this year because of other affordability measures taken by the government in the budget.
She highlighted a one-percentage-point reduction in the harmonized sales tax to 14 per cent and other tax measures that totalled $500 million in savings for Nova Scotians.
“There are other rebates and programs that are available to Nova Scotians, this (heating) is just one of many that exist,” the minister said.
However, Chender dismissed Balser’s rationale.
“From the people we talk to, an income tax cut doesn’t really do anything for them,” she said. “Many aren’t paying a lot of income tax to begin with and the rest (of the savings) is change.”
Since the fall sitting began last week, the opposition parties have pressed the government on affordability issues and the New Democrats have introduced legislation that would lower power bills by 10 per cent through a rebate.
The proposed rebate would cost about $140 million, Chender has said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2025.
Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press
