I recently put oil in my tank in preparation for the upcoming winter months. It was a sobering moment when I realized that the amount of money that, in recent history, would have filled the tank was now enough to fill it only about halfway.
Although we are expecting a milder-than-normal winter, thanks to the much-discussed Super El Niño, I doubt that forecast will warm the hearts – or the homes – of the many Nova Scotians who rely on oil heat.
The question is: what can we do to relieve the burden?
Honestly, I don’t have an easy answer.
There are growing calls for the provincial government to increase heating supplements and make them available to more people. I agree that the income threshold for assistance deserves a serious look. However, the reality is that the provincial government cannot pay everyone’s heating bill. Ultimately, the money has to come from Nova Scotians themselves, including many who are already struggling with their own rising costs.
That means we need to take a careful look at who needs assistance most and how we can provide it without creating new financial pressures elsewhere.
Seniors and people living with disabilities are among the most vulnerable during times like these. Often, they simply are not in a position to go out and earn additional income when costs rise. In rural Nova Scotia, many also live in older homes that are less energy efficient than newer construction. Older windows, insulation, heating systems and appliances can mean it costs significantly more to maintain the same level of comfort during the winter.
But there is another group being squeezed by the current system: working families.
Young families are often trying to build a future while paying a mortgage or rent, raising children, buying groceries and keeping the lights and heat on. Yet their household income can put them just above the threshold for programs intended to help lower-income Nova Scotians.
There is a further imbalance when some benefits and assistance programs are tax-free or treated differently for income-testing purposes, while employment income is often assessed using gross earnings. A family can therefore find itself earning slightly too much to qualify for assistance while having considerably less disposable income than the income threshold might suggest.
I have said it before, and I will continue to say it: Nova Scotians need a hand up, not simply a handout.
We need to create incentives and opportunities for people who want to improve their financial circumstances. Programs such as the More Opportunity for Skilled Trades and Occupations (MOST) tax refund are steps in that direction, but there is room for more.
Just as importantly, people need to know these programs exist. Making information primarily available online does not necessarily mean it is accessible. If you don’t know a program exists, you don’t know to look for it.
Whether this winter is technically milder or colder than normal, the reality is that it is shaping up to be a difficult one for many Nova Scotians.
For some, turning up the thermostat will simply mean turning down something else – groceries, medication, rent or another household expense.
Keeping Nova Scotians warm should not be about choosing between one essential and another. We need targeted help for those who truly need it, while creating more opportunities for those who are working hard to build a better future.
This winter, the question isn’t simply how cold it will get outside.
It is how many Nova Scotians will be able to afford to stay warm.