When I worked in legal aid many of our clients had to choose between heating or eating, between keeping the lights on or buying medication. They’d cut their pills in half or, in one horrible case, stay with an abusive partner who paid the energy bill. https://twitter.com/efficiencycan/status/1359531954979426307

Low income energy efficiency makes life a lot more comfortable and just a little bit easier for a lot of people. And help is needed: when there’s just $5/day left after rent, are you going to buy that LED lightbulb or are you going to eat?

In 2005 we started the Affordable Energy Coalition in NS. Our 3 priorities were: rate assistance, low income energy efficiency & affordable housing. The budget that Jack Layton & Paul Martin negotiated included Canada’s first low income efficiency program. We were thrilled.

It was cancelled by the new conservative government before it even got off the ground. If we’re going to have a just & equitable transition to net zero we need low income energy efficiency. Thanks @EfficiencyCAN for this campaign and the call to action for all of us.

Also just to say: unless you’ve experienced having your power cut you have no idea how scary this is. No lights, no heat, precious food spoiling in the fridge, and if you have kids, children’s aid knocking on your door. No one should have to go through that.