November 14, 2023

STILES’ NDP PITCHES FREE HEAT PUMPS, HELP WITH RETROFITS TO HELP ONTARIANS STAY WARM THIS WINTER

QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, the Leader of the Official Opposition NDP announced today two real solutions to make life more affordable and fight climate change.

Stiles is calling on the Ford Conservatives to help families make their homes more efficient and lower their home heating bills by making heat pumps free. The Ontario NDP is also proposing the province provide grants and zero-interest financing to help households to make energy-efficient retrofits.

“Ontarians need smart and practical solutions that meet the moment,” said Stiles. “Life is more expensive under Ford’s corrupt Conservatives, and we know that we are at a critical point in the climate crisis. Smart and effective policies like this help ease the burden while leading the collective fight against climate change. This is how we make sure Ontarians aren’t left behind.”

Ontario NDP Affordability critic Bhutila Karpoche (Parkdale—High Park) said “people across our province are struggling to make ends meet, and as winter approaches, many families have to make the tough call between skyrocketing cost of home heating and putting food on the table. We are committed to helping Ontarians through this affordability and climate crisis with practical, affordable, and achievable solutions.”

“Only the NDP has a plan to make life more affordable and fight climate change,” said Peter Tabuns (Toronto—Danforth), NDP critic for Climate and Energy. “Ford’s Conservatives may act as if climate change is not real, but after devastating seasons of wildfires and floods, Ontarians know that the cost of doing nothing on climate change is very real.”

QUICK FACTS:

Many Ontario households are already eligible for large subsidies for heat pumps and other energy-saving home retrofits through federal programs.
The Ontario NDP is calling on the provincial government to cover the difference so heat pumps would be free for low- and middle-income households.
The federal government’s enhanced pilot program in Atlantic Canada, which provides free heat pumps for households that currently use oil, has the potential to expand to all of Canada, but is contingent on provincial matching funds.
Stiles and the NDP are also proposing zero-interest on-bill financing, to make it as easy as possible for everyone to install a heat pump, lower their energy bills, and reduce their carbon footprint.

Contact:

Elaine Perkins

4162756059

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NDP MPPS BRING LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY CRISIS WITH HOME HEATING COST RELIEF

QUEEN’S PARK – MPPs Jennie Stevens (St. Catharines), Tom Rakocevic (Humber River–Black Creek), Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk–James Bay) and Peter Tabuns (Toronto–Danforth) are bringing solutions that would bring down people’s utility bills with Bill 213, Affordable Home Heating Act.

“Ontarians have seen their Enbridge bills double in recent years,” said Stevens. “By passing Bill 213, today, this government can prevent thousands of families and seniors from being forced to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table this winter."

This legislation puts into place recommendations from the Low-Income Energy Network, which addressed the critical need for inclusive on-bill support programs in their 2023 report, a Pathway Out of Energy Poverty.

"No matter how you choose to heat your home, you should qualify for financial help if needed to stay warm,” added Rakocevic. “Ontario winters can get very cold and it's unacceptable that many seniors are switching off their furnaces because they can't afford their heating bill. They deserve better. This assistance serves as a safety net to prevent energy poverty."

Additional Quotes:

“The proposed bill offers much-needed relief for seniors on fixed incomes who are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of living in Ontario”

– Advocacy Centre for the Elderly

“Expanding bill assistance to natural gas and those who heat with expensive oil or propane will help create a universal social safety net against energy poverty. In addition, this policy will help identify the homes who could benefit the most from energy efficiency upgrades - providing a durable energy affordability solution.”

– Brendan Haley, Senior Director of Policy, Efficiency Canada

“Dramatic rate increases, coupled with inflation, are having an adverse impact on vulnerable consumers – including seniors, the working poor, people on social assistance, rural communities and Northern Ontarians. In order to address high natural gas prices, we are recommending that an on-bill credit program, similar to the OESP program available for electricity users, be created for natural gas users. A proactive program that provides ongoing affordability would reduce the need and reliance on emergency assistance funds.”

– Low-Income Energy Network

NDP MPP PUSHES FOR WORKPLACE HEAT PROTECTION LEGISLATION

QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP MPP and critic for Energy and Climate Action, Peter Tabuns, joined workers and the Ontario Federation of Labour to call for workplace heat protection measures.

“As the world gets hotter, more and more people will be risking their health and their lives just by going to work,” said Tabuns. “Workers deserve protection. Extreme heat on the job can result in death on the job, as well as increasing workplace injuries, illnesses and absences from work.

“Today, we are giving Ford the opportunity to say yes to safe working conditions. Because it’s time we put laws in place to protect workers all across the province. This bill is a substantial first step in ensuring they have the protection they deserve."

Tabuns, along with the NDP Labour critic, Jamie West, critic for Workplace Injury, Lise Vaugeouis, and Education critic, Chandra Pasma, will be tabling the Heat Stress Act to develop a framework that protects workers from extreme heat in the workplace.