More than 1,000 households receive government fuel subsidy
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Gjoa Haven (Apr 06/01) - After weeks of struggling to keep the house heated and food on the family table, Elizabeth Hiqiniq finally caught a break.
The Gjoa Haven resident received a $450 cheque from the Government of Nunavut to relieve some of financial stress caused by the high cost of fuel.
"I don't have to worry about running out of fuel. We should have enough for at least a month," said Hiqiniq.
The money from the territorial government bought her the time she needed to get ahead on other bills that had gone unpaid.
"It's going to be a lot easier to pay the rest of them now," she said.
There are 1,600 homeowners in Nunavut. A total of 1,330 residents applied for assistance and each the $450 rebate.
Housing Minister Manitok Thompson said the rebate program was a success and was impressed with the efficiency of her department and local housing associations during the process.
"It was a three-day turnaround. We got the application and in three days, the cheques went out," she said.
Thompson added the government would consider similar programs in the future although she didn't think it would become an annual assistance program.
"If we get to this stage again, it's always a consideration to help out people who may be having difficulty buying fuel for their homes," said Thompson.
"I don't think if we could do it every year."
The one-time fuel rebate program was open to all Nunavut residents who earned less than $125,000 and paid for their own fuel.:
