Saskatchewan NDP 2010 Resolutions - Affordable Warmth Benefit

Let's fit in one more of the resolutions for discussion this weekend, this time an idea to help mitigate against the costs of one of the more obvious costs of Saskatchewan living:

SD1. BE IT RESOLVED that a New Democrat government would create a two
part Seniors’ Affordable Warmth Benefit. The first part would be a universal benefit paid to all seniors during the months requiring heating designed to cover a significant portion of heating costs for senior households. The second part would be an income-tested benefit paid to low-income seniors during the months requiring heating designed to cover the remainder of heating costs for low-income senior households.
- University of Saskatchewan Young New Democrats

Now, I'm not sure that a standalone payment would be my first choice of policies to deal with affordable heating - as targeted funding for actual heating measures (particularly environmentally-friendly ones which may reduce future costs) would seem to promise more return on the province's investment. But it's definitely worth discussing what the province can do to lower the basic cost of living - and the resolution looks to make for a good starting point.