Latest news with #Ontarian
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2 opposition MPPs have created a plan to solve Ontario's homelessness crisis in 10 years. Could it work?
A Green and Liberal MPP have worked together to develop a plan they say could fix the Ontario housing crisis in 10 years. Kitchener Centre MPP Aislinn Clancy and Etobicoke-Lakeshore MPP Lee Fairclough are co-sponsoring a private member's bill that they say creates a housing-first plan. Experts CBC News spoke to say while not perfect, if passed, the bill would take important steps to really addressing the homelessness crisis being felt in municipalities across Ontario. Bill 28, Homelessness Ends with Housing Act includes the creation of a portable housing benefit, setting up an advisory committee of people with expertise and collecting data on supportive housing to make sure the province is meeting its targets. "Every Ontarian deserves a stable, safe, affordable place to live, and this new legislation offers a solution and a clear path rooted in evidence, compassion and a commitment to housing as a human right," Clancy said in a news conference on Tuesday. Fairclough says the causes of homelessness need to be addressed to find real solutions. "We have the data, we have the road maps and as this bill references, housing first is a proven policy to end chronic homelessness," Fairclough said. Kelly Welch, who is from Waterloo region and has been precariously housed, said at times she only had $20 in her pocket. That meant she had to find ways to navigate the system on her own and she feels like that experience could be invaluable to the government. "I support this bill and sharing that lived experience because we do come up with solutions," she said at the news conference. "I would like to lift up the lived experience of others and to share those because everyone deserves a home and having safe, secure housing was that first step to building my life." WATCH | : Growing number of people experiencing homelessness A report released by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in January 2025 said more than 80,000 Ontarians were known to be homeless in 2024, a 25 per cent increase over 2022. "Ontario is at a tipping point in its homelessness crisis," the report warned, noting without "significant intervention" the number of people who are homeless in the province could triple by 2035. It noted 25 per cent of those experiencing homelessness were children and youth, while Indigenous people were disproportionately affected, with 45 per cent of people experiencing chronic homelessness in northern communities identifying as Indigenous. "In northern Ontario, known homelessness has risen by an estimated 204 per cent since 2016, growing from 1,771 people to 5,377 people in 2024," the report said. Meanwhile, Ontario's cities have reported an increasing number of refugees and asylum seekers who need help to find stable housing. "The growing pressures of Ontario's homelessness crisis are felt most acutely at the local level. Municipal governments are tasked with responding to immediate needs while trying to deal with infrastructure gaps that limit their ability to address long-term solutions," the report said. "Communities are deeply affected, with individuals and families enduring the trauma of homelessness and neighbourhoods saying that long-term homelessness and people living outdoors are unacceptable, demanding urgent action from governments." Housing first works: Expert The concept of "housing first" is a major part of the private member's bill from Clancy and Fairclough and it means people should be given housing as a first step to helping them with other issues. Carolyn Whitzman, an adjunct professor and senior housing researcher at the University of Toronto, says she says it's always great when politicians understand that providing housing "is the only proven way to end homelessness." "I would hope that this understanding transcends politics, because it will take a generation to end homelessness and co-ordinated action from all levels of government, most of all provinces," she told CBC News in an email. She pointed to Finland, which has implemented a housing-first approach and aims to end homelessness completely by 2027. Maritt Kirst is an associate professor in the community psychology program at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo and also the co-director of the Centre for Community Research, Learning, and Action and the director of Community Mental Health Research Interest Group. She says she commended the MPPs for including the housing-first approach into their bill. "While the largest research trial of housing first was conducted in Canada in 2008 to 2013 — the At Home/Chez Soi Project — and contributed significant amounts of evidence on the success of the housing-first program, Canada lags behind in implementing this approach compared to other countries," she said in an email. Kirst said another important part of the private member's bill is developing an advisory committee of people with lived experience. "It is critical to include the voices of people with lived experience in the development of any policy initiative in order to accurately reflect the needs of the population and what works for them," Kirst said. "The enactment of a bill such as this would support a much needed shift away from governments' heavy reliance on Band-Aid solutions like emergency shelters and approaches that criminalize people experiencing homelessness, towards effective solutions to end homelessness in Ontario." Kaite Burkholder Harris, the executive director of the Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa and co-chair of the Ontario Alliance to End Homelessness, says she also appreciates the focus on housing first and it is a reachable goal. "If we were to properly resource and actually build boatloads of non-profit housing, I think that we could see it seriously change in a relatively short period of time," she said in an interview. She said the current path the province is on will not solve the homelessness crisis in the next decade. Burkholder Harris says with Bill 6 — the Safer Municipalities Act which is currently in the committee stage and which would create harsher penalties if someone were caught using drugs or alcohol in a tent and for trespassing infractions — the province is "criminalizing the experience of being homeless." Burkholder Harris says there's also a misconception everyone who is homeless has complex needs but she says some people simply just need a place to live. "Some people who are very unwell, they do need a certain type of housing," she said. "Many people are waking up and going to work in the morning … and they have a minimum wage job and they can't afford rent," she said, noting if someone falls behind in their rent and gets evicted, it can take time for them to save up again to afford first and last month rent in their area. "But those folks, if they get stuck in being homeless, they are going to develop more complex needs," she said. Data collection needed to develop a strategy Dawn Parker is a professor in the school of planning at the University of Waterloo and says her first impression of the private member's bill is that would take an important step in gathering much needed data about what is happening in the province. "Politically, this is not a strategy to end homelessness. I don't think a real strategy to end homelessness has any chance of passing the legislature at this point during this government," Parker said. "What really this bill proposes is to start tracking, seriously start tracking data, on homelessness and housing for those who've been homeless or who fall back into homelessness. Beyond that, it asks the province to develop a strategy." Parker says the Green party and NDP in Ontario and nationally have put forward practical solutions to tackle different aspects of housing and why it's become unaffordable, including building non-profit housing on public lands, implementing vacant home taxes and using inclusionary zoning, which require private developers to include a certain percentage of affordable units within new, multi-unit housing developments. None of the advice is new, she says, noting she started talking to media about missing middle housing nearly a decade ago. "Housing experts have been saying the same things over and over and over and over again for years on end," Parker said. "We keep giving the same advice. It's up to the province when and how they take up that advice." Parker says she hopes the current Ontario government really considers what is in the Liberal-Green private member's bill because really, what it's recommending is getting more information to make better decisions. "This is a quite benign bill that mainly calls for consistent reporting and data tracking. I would hope that it could pass," she said. "If it doesn't happen, why not? Why is there a fear of information? We should all value and support efforts to bring data and daylight to the problems that we face, so we're all talking from the same information and about the same things."
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Mark Carney warns that ‘foreign threats' mean Canada needs to move faster
There is a need for speed. That's the message from Prime Minister Mark Carney as he convenes the premiers Sunday in Saskatoon. Carney told the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Ottawa on Friday that he wants to work with the provinces to fast-track the building of housing on a massive scale in Canada as well as accelerating 'nation-building' projects and streamlining environmental assessments. Without mentioning U.S. President Donald Trump's name, the prime minister prompted laughter from mayors when he underscored the importance of Canada moving quickly to make its economy more resilient. 'In face of foreign threats — no prize for guessing what I'm saying, I'm trying to learn some diplomacy from the King,' he said, referring to King Charles, who delivered Monday's throne speech, 'a core priority of this government is to build projects of national significance, projects that reinforce our country's resilience, projects that connect Canada, projects that partner with Indigenous Peoples, that diversify our trading partners and create a more sustainable future for all.' Carney cited potential projects like the long-discussed high-speed rail line between Windsor and Quebec City, upgrades to ports and other infrastructure as key to diversifying Canada's trading relationships and reducing its reliance on the U.S. 'We will move from delay to delivery, ensuring that the Canadian government becomes a catalyst for, not an impediment to, nation building projects that will supercharge growth in communities both large and small,' he said. That was music to the ears of Premier Doug Ford, who would like to expedite the Ring of Fire mining project in northern Ontario and new nuclear reactors, among other big-ticket priorities. 'He wants to work collaboratively,' Ford said of Carney, noting that was not always the case with former prime minister Justin Trudeau. 'The previous government and previous prime minister didn't show enough love, in my opinion, to Alberta and Saskatchewan. We have to be a united country,' said the Ontarian, who chairs the Council of the Federation. 'I believe (Carney) is creating that environment of making sure that we build large national infrastructure projects,' he said, expressing hope the prime minister will revisit Trudeau's Impact Assessment Act that limits pipeline construction and is unpopular in Alberta and Saskatchewan. 'As long as you have Bill C-69 it's like five steps forward, 10 steps backwards. We should all be in agreement right across the country, you can't move forward as long as you have Bill C-69.' Ford's comments at Queen's Park come as his Progressive Conservative government is in the midst of pushing through its controversial Bill 5 that would limit environmental assessments and create 'special economic zones' exempt from many municipal and provincial rules to speed up infrastructure projects. Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said last-minute government amendments aimed at easing Indigenous That has raised concerns from some Indigenous leaders that First Nation treaty rights are being violated, which could lead to protests. 'I had a great meeting with Chief (Abram) Benedict last week when I had him over to the house. This isn't about hurting First Nations. This is about giving them an opportunity,' Ford said of the Ontario Regional Chief. 'We're always going to respect treaty rights. We're always going to have duty to consult but let's look across the country,' he said. 'Forget political stripes. We have ... NDP Premier (David) Eby (in British Columbia) saying we have to move on this. We have a Liberal government (in Ottawa) that's saying it's ridiculous it takes 15 years (to approve a mine). Either make changes or you fall behind and you get destroyed by the rest of the world that will eat our lunch.' Carney suggested in an interview earlier this week with David Cochrane on CBC Power and Politics that he is prepared to release a list of projects that would be fast-tracked after the summit. Ahead of the meeting, Quebec Premier François Legault told reporters he believes the federal government should help foot the bill for Quebec's planned expansion of hydroelectrical developments in Labrador. Already several First Nations leaders have suggested they want a greater say in what developments get the green light. Carney's governing agenda, laid out in the throne speech Tuesday pledged that Ottawa would work with Indigenous groups. 'As Canada moves forward with nation-building projects, the government will always be firmly guided by the principle of free, prior, and informed consent,' it said, echoing the principle enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Natan Obed, leader of the national group representing Inuit people, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said in an interview that Ottawa's requirement to consult, work with and obtain the consent of Inuit communities is 'baked into' the modern-day treaties that govern the relationship between the federal government and the Inuit. He has appealed to Carney to include Indigenous leaders in talks with the premiers in Saskatoon. 'We recognize as Inuit that there will be issues that first ministers will need to discuss with the Canadian prime minister' that deal with their particular concerns, but he said 'there are shared interests, and there's shared governance and we have to be a part of these conversations that will lead to decisions that are made on behalf of all Canadians.'
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Star
Mark Carney warns that ‘foreign threats' mean Canada needs to move faster
There is a need for speed. That's the message from Prime Minister Mark Carney as he convenes the premiers Sunday in Saskatoon. Carney told the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in Ottawa on Friday that he wants to work with the provinces to fast-track the building of housing on a massive scale in Canada as well as accelerating 'nation-building' projects and streamlining environmental assessments. Without mentioning U.S. President Donald Trump's name, the prime minister prompted laughter from mayors when he underscored the importance of Canada moving quickly to make its economy more resilient. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'In face of foreign threats — no prize for guessing what I'm saying, I'm trying to learn some diplomacy from the King,' he said, referring to King Charles, who delivered Monday's throne speech, 'a core priority of this government is to build projects of national significance, projects that reinforce our country's resilience, projects that connect Canada, projects that partner with Indigenous Peoples, that diversify our trading partners and create a more sustainable future for all.' Carney cited potential projects like the long-discussed high-speed rail line between Windsor and Quebec City, upgrades to ports and other infrastructure as key to diversifying Canada's trading relationships and reducing its reliance on the U.S. 'We will move from delay to delivery, ensuring that the Canadian government becomes a catalyst for, not an impediment to, nation building projects that will supercharge growth in communities both large and small,' he said. That was music to the ears of Premier Doug Ford, who would like to expedite the Ring of Fire mining project in northern Ontario and new nuclear reactors, among other big-ticket priorities. 'He wants to work collaboratively,' Ford said of Carney, noting that was not always the case with former prime minister Justin Trudeau. 'The previous government and previous prime minister didn't show enough love, in my opinion, to Alberta and Saskatchewan. We have to be a united country,' said the Ontarian, who chairs the Council of the Federation. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'I believe (Carney) is creating that environment of making sure that we build large national infrastructure projects,' he said, expressing hope the prime minister will revisit Trudeau's Impact Assessment Act that limits pipeline construction and is unpopular in Alberta and Saskatchewan. 'As long as you have Bill C-69 it's like five steps forward, 10 steps backwards. We should all be in agreement right across the country, you can't move forward as long as you have Bill C-69.' Ford's comments at Queen's Park come as his Progressive Conservative government is in the midst of pushing through its controversial Bill 5 that would limit environmental assessments and create 'special economic zones' exempt from many municipal and provincial rules to speed up infrastructure projects. Provincial Politics First Nations chief warns of 'fierce resistance' to Premier Doug Ford's mining bill Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said last-minute government amendments aimed at easing Indigenous That has raised concerns from some Indigenous leaders that First Nation treaty rights are being violated, which could lead to protests. 'I had a great meeting with Chief (Abram) Benedict last week when I had him over to the house. This isn't about hurting First Nations. This is about giving them an opportunity,' Ford said of the Ontario Regional Chief. 'We're always going to respect treaty rights. We're always going to have duty to consult but let's look across the country,' he said. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Forget political stripes. We have ... NDP Premier (David) Eby (in British Columbia) saying we have to move on this. We have a Liberal government (in Ottawa) that's saying it's ridiculous it takes 15 years (to approve a mine). Either make changes or you fall behind and you get destroyed by the rest of the world that will eat our lunch.' Carney suggested in an interview earlier this week with David Cochrane on CBC Power and Politics that he is prepared to release a list of projects that would be fast-tracked after the summit. Ahead of the meeting, Quebec Premier François Legault told reporters he believes the federal government should help foot the bill for Quebec's planned expansion of hydroelectrical developments in Labrador. Already several First Nations leaders have suggested they want a greater say in what developments get the green light. Carney's governing agenda, laid out in the throne speech Tuesday pledged that Ottawa would work with Indigenous groups. 'As Canada moves forward with nation-building projects, the government will always be firmly guided by the principle of free, prior, and informed consent,' it said, echoing the principle enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Natan Obed, leader of the national group representing Inuit people, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, said in an interview that Ottawa's requirement to consult, work with and obtain the consent of Inuit communities is 'baked into' the modern-day treaties that govern the relationship between the federal government and the Inuit. He has appealed to Carney to include Indigenous leaders in talks with the premiers in Saskatoon. 'We recognize as Inuit that there will be issues that first ministers will need to discuss with the Canadian prime minister' that deal with their particular concerns, but he said 'there are shared interests, and there's shared governance and we have to be a part of these conversations that will lead to decisions that are made on behalf of all Canadians.' Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
National Observer
4 days ago
- Business
- National Observer
Solar panels are more affordable than ever - but it can depend on where you live
When she looked into installing solar panels on her roof, Heather McDiarmid came across an unexpected hitch. 'We realized we'd have to tear out the panels again a few years after we put them in because our roof was getting old, and it was going to need new shingles. So we got our roof redone — but with metal shingles. That way it would last longer. And then we got our PV (photovoltaic) system,' said McDiarmid, a climate change mitigation consultant. Solar panels have never been cheaper, and the lower upfront cost means homeowners can recoup their investment more quickly, with savings on electricity bills. But experts say where buyers live plays the largest role in how long they'll need to break even. Location plays into factors ranging from how much electricity the home consumes to how much sun it receives, what incentives are available and even whether foliage obstructs the sunlight — or if roof renovations are needed. Across Canada, the average installation cost for solar panels was $3.34 per watt as of fall 2023, or $25,050 for a typical 7.5-kilowatt system, which covers most of an average household's electricity needs, according to But the price can range widely, sitting as low as $2.42 per watt in Ontario but double that in Nunavut. In Ontario, the average homeowner with a bigger installation — 10 kW — enjoys annual electricity bill savings of about $1,584 when charged at time-of-use rates, according to a report McDiarmid authored for the Ontario Clean Air Alliance last year. That means an Ontarian, drawing on a new provincial grant of up to $5,000 plus an interest-free federal Greener Homes loan, might effectively pay $25,000 for a 10 kW system. If their electricity bill comes to $100 a month — $1,200 a year — the panels would pay for themselves in 16 years. Solar panels have never been cheaper, and the lower upfront cost means homeowners can recoup their investment more quickly, with savings on electricity bills. 'Many single-family home rooftops can accommodate a 10 kW solar array or more, which is enough to generate as much electricity as the home uses over a year,' McDiarmid writes. Solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, which then flows through an "inverter" to be used in the home, with excess electricity spilling onto the broader power grid. Savings come not just from consuming less energy from the local utility but from "net metering," which allows homeowners to receive credits for the extra electricity they feed back onto the grid. Banking electricity daily, monthly and often yearly is typical, said Joshua Pearce, a Western University professor specializing in solar photovoltaic technology. 'People go to their cottage during the summer, they generate a huge amount of solar power that then lasts them through the winter. They've banked that electricity,' he said. Other key questions include how much electricity your household uses — higher consumption builds a bigger case for solar — and how much that costs, with rates varying from region to region. Another factor to consider: electric heaters suck up much more electricity than gas-heated homes. 'Essentially, everywhere that breaks the 12-cents-per-kWh bar, it probably makes sense to put in solar,' said Pearce. All provinces except Quebec charge a higher rate on average, according to Also pertinent is not just where your home sits within Canada, but within the property itself. A roof that faces south soaks up more rays, while a flatter pitch further improves efficiency. 'I've got half my garage covered (with solar panels) because that's the south-facing roof, and then a third of my main roof covered, that's my southwest-facing side of the building. That's what captures the most amount of sun, so you get the most bang for your buck,' said Phil McKay, a senior director at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association. Installers can help with assessing where branches might need to be cut to absorb more light — though not all trees are yours to prune. 'I'm talking to you from the Forest City, and I love trees as much as the next guy, but not when they're partially shading my roof,' said Pearce from London, Ont., noting that many of those trunks are owned by neighbours or the city. Another key variable in solar energy production is just how sun-kissed your corner of the country is. The Prairie provinces enjoy the most hours of 'equivalent full sunlight hours' — a metric to quantify the amount of solar radiation for a given area in a year — followed by Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. British Columbia, the Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador rank last. Cost differences to link up to the power grid also vary widely. In Ontario, for example, the Ottawa utility charged $1,449 to connect panels with its grid in 2023, while in Sudbury, the charge was only $548, according to McDiarmid. Jurisdictions offer an assortment of financial incentives. BC Hydro and Ontario give residential users rebates of up to $5,000 on grid-connected solar panels and up to $5,000 for battery storage systems. Nova Scotians can tap into rebates of up to $3,000, Prince Edward Island residents $10,000 (the program is on hold for a review, but is expected to resume in the coming months). Many municipalities have rebates for various home energy upgrades as well. A checklist to run through if you're considering rooftop solar: - Check your utility bill to tally how much you spend on electricity each year. In general, the more you shell out, the greater the possible savings from a photovoltaic system. - Check the average rate your utility charges for electricity. Again, the higher the rate, the more potential savings accrue. - Shop around for quotes from at least two or three installation firms. If their estimates on the long-term savings roughly align, those projections are probably not far off the mark. - Make sure the size of the installation matches your electricity demands. Don't splurge on a system that exceeds your needs. - Ask how efficient your system will be due to the slant of your roof and the directions it faces. - Research how much sun and snow your region receives. - Find out whether your municipality requires building and electrical permits to install solar panels. Many cities do, with the combined cost often topping $1,000.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Are solar panels worth the investment? Yes — usually — but it depends where you live
MONTREAL - When she looked into installing solar panels on her roof, Heather McDiarmid came across an unexpected hitch. 'We realized we'd have to tear out the panels again a few years after we put them in because our roof was getting old and it was going to need new shingles. So we got our roof redone — but with metal shingles. That way it would last longer. And then we got our PV (photovoltaic) system,' said McDiarmid, a climate change mitigation consultant. Solar panels have never been cheaper, and the lower upfront cost means homeowners can recoup their investment more quickly, with savings on electricity bills. But experts say where buyers live plays the largest role in how long they'll need to break even. Location plays into factors ranging from how much electricity the home consumes to how much sun it receives, what incentives are available and even whether foliage obstructs the sunlight — or if roof renovations are needed. Across Canada, the average installation cost for solar panels was $3.34 per watt as of fall 2023, or $25,050 for a typical 7.5-kilowatt system, which covers most of an average household's electricity needs, according to . But the price can range widely, sitting as low as $2.42 per watt in Ontario but double that in Nunavut. In Ontario, the average homeowner with a bigger installation — 10 kW — enjoys annual electricity bill savings of about $1,584 when charged at time-of-use rates, according to a report McDiarmid authored for the Ontario Clean Air Alliance last year. That means an Ontarian, drawing on a new provincial grant of up to $5,000 plus an interest-free federal Greener Homes loan, might effectively pay $25,000 for a 10 kW system. If their electricity bill comes to $100 a month — $1,200 a year — the panels would pay for themselves in 16 years. 'Many single-family home rooftops can accommodate a 10 kW solar array or more, which is enough to generate as much electricity as the home uses over a year,' McDiarmid writes. Solar panels convert sunlight directly into electricity, which then flows through an 'inverter' to be used in the home, with excess electricity spilling onto the broader power grid. Savings come not just from consuming less energy from the local utility but from 'net metering,' which allows homeowners to receive credits for the extra electricity they feed back onto the grid. Banking electricity daily, monthly and often yearly is typical, said Joshua Pearce, a Western University professor specializing in solar photovoltaic technology. 'People go to their cottage during the summer, they generate a huge amount of solar power that then lasts them through the winter. They've banked that electricity,' he said. Other key questions include how much electricity your household uses — higher consumption builds a bigger case for solar — and how much that costs, with rates varying from region to region. Another factor to consider: electric heaters suck up much more electricity than gas-heated homes. 'Essentially, everywhere that breaks the 12-cents-per-kWh bar, it probably makes sense to put in solar,' said Pearce. All provinces except Quebec charge a higher rate on average, according to . Also pertinent is not just where your home sits within Canada, but within the property itself. A roof that faces south soaks up more rays, while a flatter pitch further improves efficiency. 'I've got half my garage covered (with solar panels) because that's the south-facing roof, and then a third of my main roof covered, that's my southwest-facing side of the building. That's what captures the most amount of sun, so you get the most bang for your buck,' said Phil McKay, a senior director at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association. Installers can help with assessing where branches might need to be cut to absorb more light — though not all trees are yours to prune. 'I'm talking to you from the Forest City, and I love trees as much as the next guy, but not when they're partially shading my roof,' said Pearce from London, Ont., noting that many of those trunks are owned by neighbours or the city. Another key variable in solar energy production is just how sun-kissed your corner of the country is. The Prairie provinces enjoy the most hours of 'equivalent full sunlight hours' — a metric to quantify the amount of solar radiation for a given area in a year — followed by Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick. British Columbia, the Yukon and Newfoundland and Labrador rank last. Cost differences to link up to the power grid also vary widely. In Ontario, for example, the Ottawa utility charged $1,449 to connect panels with its grid in 2023, while in Sudbury, the charge was only $548, according to McDiarmid. Jurisdictions offer an assortment of financial incentives. BC Hydro and Ontario give residential users rebates of up to $5,000 on grid-connected solar panels and up to $5,000 for battery storage systems. Nova Scotians can tap into rebates of up to $3,000, Prince Edward Island residents $10,000 (the program is on hold for a review, but is expected to resume in the coming months). Many municipalities have rebates for various home energy upgrades as well. A checklist to run through if you're considering rooftop solar: - Check your utility bill to tally how much you spend on electricity each year. In general, the more you shell out, the greater the possible savings from a photovoltaic system. - Check the average rate your utility charges for electricity. Again, the higher the rate, the more potential savings accrue. - Shop around for quotes from at least two or three installation firms. If their estimates on the long-term savings roughly align, those projections are probably not far off the mark. - Make sure the size of the installation matches your electricity demands. Don't splurge on a system that exceeds your needs. - Ask how efficient your system will be due to the slant of your roof and the directions it faces. - Research how much sun and snow your region receives. - Find out whether your municipality requires building and electrical permits to install solar panels. Many cities do, with the combined cost often topping $1,000. - Consider a battery for power outages to keep lights, internet, sump pumps and fridges working. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
