This week, Marit Stiles and the Ontario NDP announced their plan to make heat pumps free and help homeowners with energy retrofits to save money and the environment.
As cold weather sets in, many Ontarians are worried about their energy bills. The affordability crisis has left some having to choose between warming their home and putting food on the table.
For those who own their own home, heat pumps—efficient, electric alternative to furnaces and traditional air conditioning units—are a solution that would not only lower their bills and reduce their carbon emissions.
However, heat pumps can be expensive—between $8,000 and $20,000. And while many Ontario households are already eligible for large subsidies for heat pumps and other energy-saving home retrofits through federal programs, the cost still puts this solution out of reach for many.
On Tuesday, Marit Stiles and Official Opposition Energy and Climate Action Critic Peter Tabuns announced their plan 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.”