As the cost of power continues to rise, Newfoundland and Labrador NDP Leader Jim Dinn continued the party’s focus on affordability by pledging to keep costs down by immediately removing the HST off all home heating – including electricity, propane, oil, and wood – and maintaining the home heating supplement program.
“Home heating in the winter isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity,” said Dinn. “We’ve heard heartbreaking stories from folks across the province – struggling with power bills – while government after government has failed to act. Enough is enough. People need a break and we’re ready to deliver.”
As ratepayers received a second consecutive rate hike of 7% this last July, official donor records shows that Newfoundland Power and Fortis contributed a combined $196,520 to the Liberal Party and $181,050 to the Progressive Conservatives between 2010 and 2024, a total of $377,570. Notably, over $100,000 of that – $50,000 to each party – was donated in just the last two years, a period marked by significant increases in power rates for consumers.
New Democrats have long pushed for the removal of HST from home heating bills, even pushing the Conservatives in 2011 to bring this forward, only for them to scrap it after the election in 2012. Hogan and his Liberal government opposed multiple attempts to bring forward affordability relief, with both the Liberals and Conservatives voting against an NDP private members’ bill that would have removed the HST in 2024. As recently as this mere months ago, Liberals were claiming it simply couldn’t be done.
Now that the Liberals see political benefit during a campaign, they are promising to remove the HST but only off of home electricity, freezing out thousands of households that rely on other forms of heating – especially those living in rural areas. The New Democrat plan would immediately save power customers 10 per cent, while an NDP government launches an independent investigation into continuous rising power rates. The NDP is also pledging to maintain the home heating supplement program.
“This election voters have a choice. We’re focused on putting the people of this province first, rather than the interests of insiders and corporate donors,” said Dinn. “We’re focused on making life more affordable for households across the province. If you’re looking for change – if you want to change the status quo of the way politics are done in our province – NDP MHAs are ready to be your voice.”
The policy would cost the province $68 million annually. The NDP remains the only party in this election to release a full platform, with full costing, and deliver four balanced budgets.