APPLIANCE REBATE PROGRAM NOT IMAGINATIVE OR SWEEPING ENOUGH
The Yukon government’s rebate incentive program to help people reduce their energy consumption and energy costs is inadequate and totally lacking in vision, says NDP leader Todd Hardy.
"These measures are ad hoc and spotty," Hardy says. "The $500 the government plans to give homeowners to replace a furnace with a high efficiency oil- or propane-burning unit is not nearly enough to help offset the $5,000 to 10,000 it will cost them to make the changeover. Many of those on fixed incomes and lower incomes will not be able to take advantage of this offer or many of the other ones."
As well, there are too few options in this hodgepodge of incentive programs to motivate people to seriously explore the broadening range of non-fossil fuel alternatives to heat, light and run their homes, he adds.
"Aside from a $500 rebate to convert to a solar-powered domestic hot water system or $300 for a woodstove, there is no other mention of getting people off the fossil-fuel treadmill that is negatively impacting our planet."
The announcement is an expansion of the Appliance Rebate Program already offered by the Energy Solutions Centre. Last year, according to the government’s own figures, just five per cent of Yukon households participated.
"That tells me the program is not offering the kinds of incentives people need to replace their energy- or fuel-wasting appliances with more efficient ones," Hardy says.
Encouraging the use of energy-efficient appliances and products is just one component of any comprehensive climate-change action plan but the Yukon government has so far failed to be very bold on either the mitigation or adaptation fronts.
"This government should be looking at setting new housing standards for energy efficiency. It should be investing more money in public transportation, both within the city of Whitehorse as well as in rural communities. It needs to consider incentives for the purchase of energy-efficient vehicles and bicycles.
"Where are the programs and incentives to show the Yukon is serious about tackling global climate change, one of the major environmental, political and economic challenges of this century? In any rankings of climate change policies among Canada’s provincial and territorial governments, the Yukon places near the bottom of the list."