N.B. unveils new emergency fuel supplement
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 | 9:44 PM AT
CBC News
The New Brunswick government is offering a new $550 emergency fuel supplement for low-income earners, Social Development Minister Kelly Lamrock announced on Tuesday.
Lamrock said the new initiative is the result of public consultations designed to create a heating-assistance program to help low-income New Brunswick residents.
The new program eliminates the demand that people use up all of their assets to qualify for assistance. Now the government will not consider a person's investments or bank accounts with less than $2,000 when deciding if a household needs the benefit.
"This is a benefit that is simple, direct, it's based on some very simple criteria," said Lamrock. "If your salary is too low and your cost too high and you're having trouble paying your heating bill, come see us.
"We actually have enough available with $550 that we might be able to get you out of the hole you're in."
In a statement, Randy Hatfield, the executive director of the Human Development Council, said the program addresses a "true emergency … without jeopardizing the financial security of New Brunswickers."
Too complicated?
A senior citizens advocacy group criticized the plan as being too complicated.
Cecile Cassista, executive director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents' Rights, said many seniors — especially those who struggle with illiteracy — would not want to fill out a form that asks for personal financial details.
"A lot of people have a lot of pride and they're certainly not going to pick up the phone and say, 'You know I need to go through this process,'" she said. "I think that they need a simple process, an application where people can identify and have assistance."
The new program is replacing the ill-fated Warm Hearts, Warm Homes program that the provincial government cancelled after only one year. The program included private sector funding and relied on the Salvation Army to deliver emergency help.
It was supposed to provide up to $450 to low-income people in emergencies when they couldn't afford to heat their homes.
Concerns were raised, however, that the program didn't offer adequate financial assistance and it was criticized for private-sector involvement.
The program was available to people in an emergency situation who earned less than $28,000, or in households with total incomes of less than $35,000.
