Most of the province’s cost of living cheques are now in the mail, but as those are being cashed many are wondering if more support is on the way as the cold winter months set in.

Government has said previously that they were able to distribute the cheques due to higher-than-expected revenues, mainly from the price of oil.

However, oil prices have dipped from the highs of earlier this year.

As for whether those prices will have an impact on future cost of living assistance, Finance Minister Siobhan Coady says it does have an impact.

She says part of their process in preparing for the 2023 budget will consider cost of living relief. Coady also notes that they’re hopeful that the cost of living will continue to decline, citing a rate of about 6 per cent at the moment.

Meanwhile, both PC Leader David Brazil and NDP Leader Jim Dinn both agree that government has not thought ahead to address the needs of people who are going to be hurting through the winter.

Jim Dinn illustrated the point by quoting an email from a constituent who is living on disability.

They say that while the $500 cheques are great it doesn’t take care of the issues they’ll be facing next month, and calls government “out of touch” by thinking that people making $100,000 a year are hurting the same as low-income earners. Brazil echoes those sentiments and calls the situation an example of government being reactive instead of proactive.