Perth Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece is demanding to know why local homeowners area being shut out of the home audit and retrofit program.
“Yet again, it looks like the Liberals are leaving rural Ontario out in the cold,” Pettapiece says. “Unless you have natural gas, the program as it was described to us will mean absolutely nothing.”
He says only residents with natural gas can access the program.
The province announced the new program as part of its Green Investment Fund, but it will only be open to Enbridge or Union Gas customers.
“I have received many calls from constituents who are looking for more information about this retrofit program, and want to participate,” says Pettapiece. “It’s unacceptable that the government will not assist individuals who are looking to improve their home’s energy efficiency unless they are lucky enough to have access to natural gas.”
Pettapiece has asked the minister of environment and climate change to explain why many Perth Wellington residents are being deliberately blocked from the program. He submitted an order paper in Question Period, which compels the government to respond in writing.
“Everyone who wants to participate in an audit and retrofit program should be able to,” says Pettapiece. “After all, we’re the ones ultimately funding it.”
The government touts its Green Investment Fund as a down payment on its cap-and-trade program, which is set to add around 4.3 cents per litre to the cost of gas as well as $5 a month to household natural gas bills.
