The New Democrats are calling on the provincial government to increase home heating oil subsidies for people living on income support in Newfoundland and Labrador Housing.

Leader Jim Dinn notes that there is a subsidy currently in place, giving residents on the island $71 per month, and residents in Labrador $132 per month.

However, Dinn states those subsidies have not increased since 2016, and $852 per year doesn’t make a dent when the average cost to fill up an oil tank is $500 per month on the island, and more in Labrador.

Dinn is calling on government to make long-term investments to make up for what he calls years of “chronic underfunding.” Once that’s done, Dinn would like to see the program be tied to the consumer price index.