Province announces relief grants for Nova Scotians who lost income due to wildfires
Amounts set at $275 or $550 per week, depending on extent of financial impact
The Nova Scotia government is offering short-term relief grants for residents who lost income due to the recent wildfires in Shelburne County and Halifax Regional Municipality.
The Emergency Relief Grant for Individuals will provide either $275 or $550 per week, depending on the extent of the impact, the provincial government announced on Thursday.
To be eligible, residents must either live or work in one of the areas that was under mandatory evacuation orders during the wildfires, or must have experienced a business disruption due to fires. Those who are self-employed and are unable to operate their business, either permanently or temporarily, may qualify as well.
Employed and self-employed residents who aren't receiving employment insurance or who are in an employment insurance waiting period may be also eligible, as well as volunteer firefighters who could not access paid voluntary leave from their employers.
New grant follows other wildfire aid
The emergency relief grant is one of multiple aid programs the province has launched in the wake of the recent wildfires.
Last month, Premier Tim Houston announced that households in evacuated areas across the province were able to apply for a one-time grant of $500 to cover incidental expenses.
Financial assistance has also been extended to Nova Scotia farmers who were affected by the fires in the form of a one-time grant of $2,500.