MLAs call on N.W.T. gov't to offer more support for residents facing high fuel costs

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Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-30 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Affordability, Energy, Governance]

The Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a motion on Thursday, developed by the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight, urging the territorial government to increase home heating subsidies and expand financial incentives for converting to energy-efficient alternative heating appliances. Driven by a global spike in heating oil prices following the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, regular MLAs criticized current programs as insufficient given that roughly half of Northwest Territories households rely on diesel as their primary heat source. Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek noted the timing aligns with the upcoming territorial budget cycle and acknowledged gaps in existing wood pellet conversion and senior heating subsidy programs, while pointing out that public housing and income assistance clients already receive full heating coverage. The territorial government now has 120 days to formally respond to the motion.

Minister Pardy Introduces Legislation to Reduce Gas Tax to Zero

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-29 18:55:16.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Taxation, Finance, Affordability, Energy]

On October 29, 2026, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Finance Craig Pardy introduced legislation to reduce the provincial tax on gasoline and diesel to 0 cents per litre, down from 7.5 cents and 9.5 cents respectively. Factoring in the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), drivers will save 8.625 cents per litre on gasoline and 10.925 cents per litre on diesel amidst record high fuel prices. The legislative amendments also establish a protective mechanism to keep provincial fuel taxes at zero for as long as oil prices remain above a specified threshold. This measure is part of the Provincial Government's broader Budget 2026 initiative, which has invested over $275 million in cost-of-living relief.

Minister Pardy Introduces Legislation to Reduce Gas Tax to Zero

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-29 18:55:16.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Taxation, Affordability, Finance, Energy]

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through Minister of Finance Craig Pardy, introduced legislation to reduce the provincial tax on gasoline and diesel to 0 cents per litre. This policy removes the existing provincial taxes of 7.5 cents per litre for gasoline and 9.5 cents per litre for diesel, resulting in total savings at the pump—including Harmonized Sales Tax (HST)—of 8.625 cents per litre for gasoline vehicles and 10.925 cents per litre for diesel vehicles. Furthermore, the legislative amendments establish a safeguard mechanism to maintain the provincial fuel tax at zero as long as oil prices stay above a specified threshold, forming part of the provincial government's broader $275 million cost-of-living relief initiative.

Yukon gov't not swayed by petition to demand investigation into power utilities' billing practices

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-29 01:44:22.0
Tags: [National, Energy, Affordability, Governance]

Yukon Energy Minister Ted Laking has declined an opposition petition urging the government to use Section 18 of the Public Utilities Act to order the Yukon Utilities Board to investigate ATCO Electric Yukon and the Yukon Energy Corporation over billing discrepancies. The petition, signed by 1,101 people and tabled by NDP justice critic Carmen Gustafson, called for an independent probe into billing practices between July 2025 and July 2026 following months of customer complaints related to a 2023 billing system transition. Instead of a regulator-led investigation funded by taxpayers, the territorial government previously directed ATCO Electric Yukon to hire its own independent third-party auditor to investigate the billing issues.

Provincial Government Cutting Gas Tax on Gasoline and Diesel to Zero Beginning December 1

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-26 14:15:53.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Taxation, Affordability, Energy, Finance]

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through Minister of Finance Craig Pardy, announced that the provincial gas tax on gasoline and diesel will be reduced to zero cents per litre from December 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027. The Provincial Government will introduce legislative amendments in the House of Assembly to enact these changes and establish a permanent mechanism to keep the provincial fuel tax at zero whenever fuel prices exceed a specified threshold. This measure represents $25 million in affordability relief, contributing to a broader $79 million cost-of-living package that also includes the accelerated Churchill Falls Electricity Rebate and a doubled Home Heating Supplement.

Affordability measures, consumer protection legislation coming: Alberta government

Source: Alberta - Provincial Politics
Date: 2026-10-24 00:52:20.0
Tags: [Alberta, Affordability, Technology, Energy, Governance]

Ahead of the Alberta legislative session, Government House Leader Joseph Schow outlined an upcoming suite of bills focused on lowering auto insurance costs, revising utility bill protections, and updating consumer rules for ticket resales and used vehicles. The provincial government under Premier Danielle Smith also plans to introduce new regulatory frameworks for artificial intelligence data centres—addressing grid stability, power bills, and water usage following public backlash over a $13-billion Sturgeon County project involving Meta—alongside merit-based public sector hiring rules, bike lane legislation, and stricter illegal dumping penalties.

Premier Wakeham Announces $54 Million in Additional Affordability Relief

Source: Newfoundland & Labrador - Government Releases
Date: 2026-10-22 12:50:01.0
Tags: [Newfoundland and Labrador, Affordability, Energy, Taxation, Finance]

Premier Tony Wakeham and Minister of Finance Craig Pardy announced a $54 million affordability package to assist residents of Newfoundland and Labrador with winter energy costs. The initiative accelerates the implementation of the Churchill Falls Electricity Rebate starting in January 2027, providing residential customers of Newfoundland Power and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro a 15 per cent reduction (up to 2,000 kilowatt-hours per month) estimated at $351 annually, costing $45 million for the remainder of the 2026-27 fiscal year. Additionally, the maximum Home Heating Supplement for households relying on furnace or stove oil is doubled from $500 to $1,000 for the 2026 program, providing roughly $9 million in relief to approximately 9,000 current applicants.

Q&A | Yukon energy minister says power bills could go up by 53% without federal help

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-22 12:31:09.0
Tags: [National, Energy, Infrastructure, Affordability, Governance]

Yukon Energy Minister Ted Laking announced that Yukon power bills could increase by 53 per cent without federal funding support to address critical power infrastructure upgrades and a projected 60 per cent rise in grid demand over the next decade. Laking is lobbying the federal government in Ottawa for a 75-25 per cent cost-sharing partnership for infrastructure projects, noting that connecting to the British Columbia power grid is estimated to cost over $4 billion, which far exceeds the territorial government's $2 billion annual budget. In response to recent grid capacity strains, the Yukon government has repealed the Clean Energy Act, reallocated electric vehicle rebates toward home energy efficiency and heat pumps, and planned thermal backup generation utilizing Whitehorse Power Centres.

N.W.T. expands home heating subsidy for seniors

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-21 18:06:17.0
Tags: [National, Seniors, Affordability, Social Services, Energy]

The Government of the Northwest Territories announced modifications to the Senior Home Heating Subsidy by raising the household income threshold to $90,000 or less per year to expand financial assistance over the winter. The new policy replaces a previous three-zone system ranging from $66,000 to $87,000 with a uniform income cap while maintaining zone-based monthly subsidy rates of $530 for Zone 1, $685 for Zone 2, and $1,090 for Zone 3. Payments are distributed monthly between September and April, with previously denied applicants automatically reassessed and an application deadline set for March 15, 2027.

N.W.T. finance minister says no emergency relief from fuel price shock, but pushes Ottawa for support

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-21 10:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Finance, Energy, Taxation, Affordability]

Northwest Territories Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek rejected calls from MLAs to slash the territorial gas and diesel tax—which generates an estimated $15 million annually—or provide immediate emergency heating fuel subsidies ahead of winter. Testifying before the federal standing committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Wawzonek criticized federal funding programs like the $2-billion heat pump initiative as unsuitable for northern climates and pressed Ottawa for customized support to address energy and affordability challenges where transport and heating costs are double the national average. She noted the territorial government already provides over $18 million in direct annual energy subsidies and warned that low water levels threatening the hydro system will force the territory to rely more heavily on costly diesel generation.

Inflation rises to 3.1% in September, as fuel prices push higher: StatsCan

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-19 12:44:28.0
Tags: [National, Economy, Affordability, Energy]

Statistics Canada reported that Canada's annual inflation rate rose to 3.1 per cent in September, driven primarily by gasoline prices jumping 27.8 per cent year-over-year due to benchmark oil price increases stemming from ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Concurrently, grocery price inflation slowed to 1.7 per cent year-over-year—the smallest yearly increase since May 2024—while shelter prices rose 1.8 per cent year-over-year. Statistics Canada's core inflation measures eased slightly on a monthly basis ahead of the Bank of Canada's upcoming October 28 rate announcement.

Yellowknife residents worry what this winter will do to their power bills

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-15 15:30:59.0
Tags: [National, Energy, Affordability, Taxation]

In Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, about 30 residents attended a town hall hosted by MLAs Kieron Testart and Robert Hawkins to discuss mounting home heating and electricity costs driven by global oil price spikes. Residents and local officials discussed potential long-term solutions such as small modular reactors—following a recent intergovernmental information-sharing agreement signed by the Northwest Territories, Alberta, and Saskatchewan—as well as immediate relief measures. Attendees and MLA Kieron Testart called for territorial fuel tax reductions and direct consumer subsidies, such as a $100 monthly power bill credit, to alleviate affordability pressures during the winter months.

Power bills in Nova Scotia may spike as utility looks to refinance $1B in assets

Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
Date: 2026-10-09 15:30:07.0
Tags: [Nova Scotia, Energy, Finance, Affordability]

Nova Scotia Power Inc. is applying for regulatory permission to refinance nearly $1 billion worth of assets, including coal plants scheduled for closure by 2030, through a financial scheme known as securitization. The utility states that the mechanism could impose a 2.9 per cent surcharge on residential power bills next year, contributing to a total projected rate increase of 6.8 per cent in 2027 when combined with previously approved hikes. While Nova Scotia Power maintains that lower interest rates from securitization will save customers $265 million over 30 years, Premier Tim Houston has expressed doubts regarding whether the accounting change will yield actual savings for ratepayers.

Ottawa to provide $2B in rebates for homeowners who install heat pumps

Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-08 15:57:40.0
Tags: [National, Energy, Environment, Housing, Affordability]

The federal government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is launching a $2-billion rebate program to help an estimated 820,000 homeowners across Canada install new heat pumps or replace existing heating systems over the next eight years. Officials state that the program will save participating homeowners an average of $1,400 annually on heating bills while lowering emissions. Additionally, Ottawa is partnering with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) to offer low-interest financing enabling apartment building owners to retrofit more than 280,000 homes over the same eight-year period.

New Brunswick utility is proposing rate hikes over next three years

Source: New Brunswick - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-07 18:31:29.0
Tags: [New Brunswick, Energy, Affordability, Infrastructure]

New Brunswick's public utility, NB Power, is proposing an average electricity rate hike of 5.5 per cent for each of the next three years, which would result in an increase of $13.25 a month for a home using 1,350 kilowatt hours. The multi-year rate application submitted to the province's power regulator is intended to help households and businesses plan ahead while addressing the utility's aging system infrastructure and $6-billion debt. If approved following a review by the New Brunswick power regulator, the new rates could come into force starting next April.

Islanders can apply for up to $1,200 in heating help at Access P.E.I. starting in November

Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
Date: 2026-10-06 18:00:00.0
Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Affordability, Social Services, Energy]

The Government of Prince Edward Island is taking over administration of the P.E.I. Home Heating Program from the Salvation Army starting in November 2026, allocating more than $7 million to the initiative. Eligible applicants can receive up to $1,200 in assistance through Access P.E.I. locations or online, following a surge in furnace oil prices that reached $2.07 per litre. The program previously processed more than 5,000 applications annually, and Housing Minister Kent Dollar stated that in-house administration aims to reduce administrative costs and improve rural access.

Cost of living, ‘opioid crisis’ paramount for opposition MLAs as Yukon legislature returns

Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
Date: 2026-10-02 11:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Governance, Healthcare, Affordability, Energy, Mining]

As the Yukon Legislative Assembly begins its fall sitting, opposition leaders Kate White of the NDP and interim Liberal leader Debra-Leigh Reti are pressing Premier Currie Dixon's majority government on the rising cost of living, regional healthcare gaps, and the territory's opioid crisis. Premier Dixon is seeking federal intervention to raise the Yukon's debt cap from $1.2 billion to $3 billion to fund major energy and health projects. Additionally, the territorial government reported that 52 out of 56 recommendations from the Independent Review Board following the 2024 Eagle gold mine heap leach disaster have been implemented, with the remaining four slated for completion by spring.

Narrowed rebate eligibility leaves some Nova Scotians worried about heating costs

Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
Date: 2026-10-01 21:16:24.0
Tags: [Nova Scotia, Affordability, Energy, Social Services, Finance]

The Government of Nova Scotia has narrowed the eligibility criteria and lowered net income thresholds for the Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP), reducing individual caps from $55,000 to $30,000 and family caps from $70,000 to $45,000. Minister of Service Nova Scotia Jill Balser defended the changes, citing a $1.4 billion provincial deficit and a $33 million budget allocation for the program, which provides eligible households with up to $400. Advocacy groups, including the Ecology Action Centre, ACORN, and the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank, raised concerns over rising heating oil costs and high energy poverty rates, noting a 25 per cent increase in demand for emergency heating supports.

S-251 (45-1) - An Act to establish a national strategy to end energy poverty

Source: Parliament of Canada (LEGISinfo)
Date: 2026-10-01 00:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Energy, Affordability, Social Services, Governance]

Senator Mary Coyle introduced Senate Public Bill S-251, entitled An Act to establish a national strategy to end energy poverty, in the Senate of Canada. The legislation reached its first reading on October 1, 2026, during the 1st session of the 45th Parliament. The bill aims to create a comprehensive federal framework and national strategy to address and eliminate energy poverty across Canada. Currently, the bill is positioned at the second reading stage in the Senate for future debate and committee review.

Alberta extends $100 rebate period as uptake lags below 50 per cent

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-30 17:56:13.0
Tags: [Alberta, Affordability, Energy, Taxation]

The Government of Alberta has extended the application deadline for its $100 energy rebate program by one month from September 30 to October 31, 2026. Administered under Finance Minister Jason Nixon, the program has seen uptake from 1.45 million out of nearly 3.4 million eligible Albertans, representing roughly 43 percent of the eligible population. The rebate was initially introduced on July 1, 2026, to replace the province's former fuel-tax relief program, which the government subsequently moved to reinstate by removing the entire 13-cent-per-litre provincial fuel tax starting October 1, 2026.