The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board:

Provincial Government Announces Home Heating Rebate for 2012-13

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that residents can now apply for this year’s Home Heating Rebate. This is certainly a well-known program and when you consider that we have also removed the provincial portion of HST on home energy, our investment last year saw almost $58 million put back into the hands of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Those are significant savings for people to use in other areas.

Application forms are available immediately online at the Department of Finance’s website and will also be available at regional offices of the Department of Advanced Education and Skills, Service NL centres and the Seniors Resource Centre in St. John’s. The forms will also be in local newspapers in the coming days.

Mr. Speaker, this government is cognizant of the fact that heating costs are a major expense in household budgets across the province. We are also aware that electricity rates have risen steadily since 2001 with the average ratepayer on the island seeing a 32 per cent increase.

This is why Muskrat Falls is so important. While there are significant economic benefits associated with the project, residents will see the greatest positive impact. Muskrat Falls will provide Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with an affordable, stable and environmentally-friendly source of electricity for generations to come - a source of electricity that other jurisdictions would love to be able to call their own.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.