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.