Managers with Service Nova Scotia told the legislature’s public accounts committee on Wednesday that there have been processing delays getting $600 cheques to people who applied for the Heating Assistance Rebate Program known as “HARP” this past fall.
The reason, according to Service Nova Scotia executive director Rodger Gregg, is that “we saw 80,000 applications during the first week when the program opened October 16.” That number was “unprecedented,” according to Service Nova Scotia Deputy Minister Joanne Munro.
NDP committee member Lisa Lachance suggested “it may have been unprecedented, but it should not have been unexpected” given the affordability issues facing many Nova Scotians.
So far this year, Service Nova Scotia has received 125,783 applications and approved 103,920 households for the rebate cheque. Families earning less than $75,000 a year and singles earning less than $55,000 can still apply for assistance until Mar. 31. The HARP program’s popularity indicates tens of thousands of people are struggling to afford to pay their heating and power bills.
Took action to meet demand
Munro told the committee when the onslaught of applications poured in this October, the department “took action” to try and meet the demand. Munro said in addition to 36 temporary hires, the department “cross-trained” several other employees and approved both overtime and weekend hours. Staff worked through the holiday period, and Munro said 90% of the applications received have now been processed.
Munro said people who use the online application form and sign up for direct deposit get processed more quickly. Those who don’t include verification of income by the Canada Revenue Agency take longer to receive a rebate. She said MLA offices continue to help many applicants who aren’t able to or confident enough to apply online.
Service Nova Scotia aims to send out a cheque within eight weeks of receiving an application. But this fall, Munro said some people were waiting up to 10 weeks due to staffing issues. She said this is no longer the case.
135,000 expected to apply for rebate this year
Based on last year’s uptake, Service Nova Scotia estimates about 135,000 households will apply for the rebate this year. The budget is $82 million, almost 50% less than the $155 million the Houston government spent last year when it increased the rebate to $1,000 for families earning less than $75,000. More than 150,000 people applied last year.
Both opposition parties have been critical of the Houston government’s decision to reduce the amount of the rebate, as well as the income threshold to qualify. Munro acknowledged that keeping the rebate at the same level as last year was one of the options staff presented to government.
Brendan Maguire, the Liberal MLA for Halifax Atlantic, said many citizens have called his office to complain. They thought the $1,000 amount would continue this winter, despite the fact a government news release of January 2023 clearly indicated it was a one-time top-up.
Maguire said the government should “re-visit” its policy for next year.
Service Nova Scotia’s job is ‘transactional’
“Our job is to provide the options and the government makes the decision,” Munro told committee members. She said it’s not Service Nova Scotia’s role to evaluate the impact of the program in terms of how much it helps citizens coping with energy poverty.
“Our job is transactional. To get the money out the door to people in need, and to as many as we can, based on the decision of the government.”
The Salvation Army also has a program to help people with heating costs, but applicants must be dealing with an emergency situation and be behind on their heating bill to be eligible for assistance.
In October, the public accounts committee was told more than 2,800 Nova Scotia Power customers had been disconnected in 2023 for non-payment of their bills. Customers cannot be cut off during winter months when the temperature falls below zero.
The Affordable Energy Coalition and Nova Scotia Power are currently part of a group working with various provincial government departments to establish a new program that would provide low-income households with a financial break on their power bill.
Maybe it’s just me and I realize that it can’t buy what it used to even a few years ago, but $75,000 family income sounds pretty high to me. $36+ per hour, so pretty much what *they* figure to be the living wage in Halifax. I live a pretty sheltered life, I suppose, but I do see what groceries and stuff costs these days. Anyway, our illustrious government in their infinite wisdom forsaw the increase in demand for help so they decided to lower the rebate amount. What a sad reflection of reality today.