Axing of popular program to impact local homeowners, jobs, small biz says MP Hyer

 OTTAWA -– New Democrat Deputy Environment Critic Bruce Hyer is outraged by a last-minute government announcement to discontinue the national ecoEnergy Retrofit program. The program provides financial support to homeowners who choose to invest in their homes by implementing energy-saving renovations and projects.  “It is a program we can all agree on.” said Hyer, “It benefits homeowners who are willing to take the initiative on the environment and save money when renovating their homes.  Not least of concern is the valuable local jobs the ecoEnergy Retrofit program has created in our region, and across the country.”

“At a time when other governments are investing in building energy conservation, our government is moving in the opposite direction by cancelling our main federal program.” said Hyer.  “The program technically runs until March 31 of next year, but now the government has slammed the door on bookings for the home energy evaluations required. And they did it after 5pm yesterday, ambushing everyone with a midnight deadline. Hundreds of small energy retrofit companies and nonprofits are now left hanging.”

Thunder Bay’s EcoSuperior is non-profit organization which offers energy audits required for ecoEnergy retrofits.  Executive Director Ellen Mortfield sees a lot at stake “It’s incredible that the government would cancel a program that is working” she said.  “They’ve got home owners investing in energy evaluation services, buying local products, hiring local contractors, and improving Canada’s housing stock—with
the added bonus of actually reducing green house gas emissions. It’s working great, but now it’s gone.”  

Advocates say the popularity of the retrofit program across the country points to a willingness by homeowners to do their part for conservation and save money at the same time. Started in 2007, more than 85,000 home retrofits were performed by 2009, a number which has only grown since. In the Northwest, EcoSuperior enrolled over 650 homes in the program last year, and energy audits waiting list can extend up to six weeks.   

Hyer said he would fight to restore the program or have an equivalent replacement. “On Day 1 of the new budget, they’ve pulled the plug on green homeowner renovations. Today I will be speaking before the House on this issue, and I will bring this up with the Minister personally.  The surprise cancellation of this important program will have far too many wide-ranging impacts to let the Harper government kill it quietly – impacts on jobs, small businesses, the environment, and the pocketbooks of homeowners.” 

Links provided courtesy of OntarioNewsNorth.com
Northwestern Ontario’s ONLY 24/7 News Source!