"Government did the right thing by announcing a $250 home heating rebate program for this year," said Ms. Thistle. "As I have stated several times over the past year, a permanent heating rebate program is necessary to help many seniors and low income earners make it through the hard Winter heating season."

Thistle questions why the government failed to extend the program to people who heat their homes using electricity. "The Minister indicated today that he feels electricity users are not feeling the pinch of increased prices over the past number of years. The Minister can ask anyone on a fixed income how much the recent electricity rate hikes have impacted on their ability to make ends meet.

"On March 26, 2003, before the most recent electricity rate hikes, Minister Sullivan introduced a Private Members Resolution in the House of Assembly asking the government to amend the heating fuel rebate program to include low income households that use electricity as their primary source of heat. I want him to practice what he preached while in opposition and extend this program to electricity users."