Homeowners can save some money with help from Canadian and provincial governments.
Canadians flocked to take advantage of the Harper government's Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) to save money on their taxes while improving their living spaces. Unfortunately, the HRTC was only in place during the 2009 tax year, and the Harper government has no plans to renew the incentive, according to The Globe and Mail. Luckily, the savvy home buyer can still take advantage of grants across the country to make home improvements while saving a little cash. Does this Spark an idea?
Homeowner Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program--Homeowner RRAP
This grant, provided by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), offers assistance to low-income families who need to make mandatory home repairs to preserve the quality of their housing. The RRAP also provides funding for disabled homeowners and landlords renting to disabled tenants to make home accessibility improvements.
Contact the CMHC:
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
700 Montreal Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P7
1-800-668-2642
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/prfinas/index.cfm
Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence (HASI)
The HASI grant, also offered by the CMHC, provides funding for home modifications to help low-income seniors live independently.
Contact the CMHC:
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
700 Montreal Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P7
1-800-668-2642
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/prfinas/index.cfm
Emergency Repair Program (ERP)
If you live in a rural area and have a low family income, the CMHC will offer you funds for emergency repairs to maintain your home's livability.
Contact the CMHC:
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
700 Montreal Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P7
1-800-668-2642
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/prfinas/index.cfm
Grants in the Maritime Provinces
If you live in Newfoundland and Labrador, you can take advantage of two grants to fund improvements that reduce home heating costs: Newfoundland and Labrador EnerGuide for Houses Program and the Residential Energy Efficiency Program (REEP). Nova Scotia offers a grant to help homeowners with the rising costs of home heating. Prince Edward Island also offers grants to fund improvements dedicated to improving energy efficiency, through the province's Office of Energy Efficiency.
Learn more about Newfoundland's Programs:
Newfoundland and Labrador EnerGuide for Houses Program
Department of Natural Resources
Natural Resources Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL
A1B 4J6
1-866-440-4044
http://www.nr.gov.nl.ca/SavingEnergy/
Learn about Nova Scotia's grant program:
Access Nova Scotia
West End Mall
6960 Mumford Road
Halifax, NS
B3L 4P1
1-800-670-4357
http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/access/business/your-energy-rebate/
Contact PEI's Office of Energy Efficiency:
Island Information Service
P.O. Box 2000
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 7N8
902-368-4000
http://www.gov.pe.ca/oee/
Grants in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba
In Ontario, get up to $5,000 in rebates if you bring a certified energy advisor into your home and make renovations based on his recommendations. Participate in Quebec's Rénoclimat program, and save money in the short term through government reimbursement and in the long term through the heating and cooling cost reductions your renovation provides. If you live in Manitoba, get reimbursed for upgrading your insulation or for general energy efficiency upgrades if you live in a low-income household.
Contact Ontario's Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure:
Ontario Home Energy Savings Program
Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
880 Bay Street, 3rd Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2C1
1-888-668-4636
http://www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/energy/conservation/ohesp2/?page=ohesp2-intro
Learn more about Quebec's Rénoclimat program:
Agence de l'efficacité énergétique
5700, 4e Avenue Ouest, RC
Québec, Canada
G1H 6R1
1-866-266-0008
http://www.aee.gouv.qc.ca/en/my-home/renoclimat/
Contact Manitoba Hydro for more program information:
Manitoba Hydro
360 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 0G8
1-888-624-9376
http://www.hydro.mb.ca/your_home/savings_home.shtml?WT.mc_id=2056
Grants for Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia
If you live in Saskatchewan, get a grant for any efficiency home improvements through the EnerGuide program. Albertans can save up to $200 on home evaluations that lead to energy efficiency upgrades, and BC offers incentives for a number of energy saving upgrades, such as attic insulation, windows and doors, and more.
Contact SaskEnergy to learn more about Saskatchewan rebates:
SaskEnergy Incorporated
1777 Victoria Avenue
Regina, SK
S4P 4K5
1-800-567-8899
http://www.saskenergy.com/Saving_Energy/energuide.asp
Contact Alberta's Climate Change Central for more information on Alberta incentives:
Climate Change Central
Suite 100, 999 - 8th Street S.W.
Calgary, AB
T2R 1J5
1-866-609-2700
http://climatechangecentral.com/my-rebates/home_evaluation
Contact LiveSmart BC to learn more about available rebates:
LiveSmart
200-1488 4th Avenue
Prince George, BC
V2L 4Y2
1-800-663-7867
http://www.livesmartbc.ca/
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