The Newfoundland and Labrador Public Sector Pensioners’ Association and the Newfoundland and Labrador Seniors, Pensioners, and Retirees Coalition are expressing grave concern with the impact that the continuing exorbitant escalation in gas and home heating fuel prices is having and will continue to have on the ability of older persons, pensioners, and all retirees to meet the costs of daily living.

On a regular basis, there is continuing confirmation from multiple sources of the impact that the overwhelming increases in food prices, other goods, and now fuel costs are doing to vulnerable persons in our community. Older persons are finding it more and more difficult to manage and are being forced to choose between food, medications, transportation and heat just to make ends meet. Last night, even those choices were completely taken away by the dramatic increase in fuel prices as there is now no choice left for many, except to drastically cut back on everything. The cyclical effect of this will be devastating, as health will deteriorate due to inability to afford nutritious food, isolation will return as no one will be able to afford to go anywhere, older persons will be forced to return to the work place, and the purchase of necessary medications will be cut in half, if not totally stopped.

Persons living on fixed income and pensions are particularly hard hit as their income has been stagnant for years while the cost of living keeps skyrocketing. We have seen dark days in our Province, but this is probably the darkest of all, as its impacts will be far-reaching.

The Pensioners’ Association and the Seniors Coalition are calling upon the Provincial Government to take immediate action to remediate this situation by implementing tax relief measures and fuel companies and distributors to exercise patience as customers struggle to pay their heating accounts this season.

Doreen Noseworthy, President, 709-687-7929

Sharron Callahan, Executive Director & Chair Seniors Coalition, 709-690-1238