TORONTO, Ont. —The Ontario government has announced funding for wood heat pilot programs in Sioux Lookout, Wawa and seven northern Ontario First Nations.
The program offers free installation of new wood and pellet heating systems replacing older, inefficient wood-burning stoves in residences and replacing or supplementing fossil fuel heating systems.
None of the participating communities have access to natural gas service, but rely on a mix of wood, propane, fuel oil and diesel-generated electricity to heat homes and other buildings.
The municipally-led pilot program offers rebates for the replacement systems to residents of the Sioux Lookout and Wawa areas.
The Indigenous-led programs provides free installation of new systems to residents of six NAN communities including Fort Hope, Deer Lake, Sandy Lake, Poplar Hill, Wunnumin Lake and Weagamow, and residents of the Wiikwemikoong First Nation.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change said delivery to the participating NAN communities has already been completed.
It said the Green Ontario Fund is also investing up to $25 million in additional projects in Indigenous communities including support for installation of ground source heat pumps, insulation and energy-efficient windows.
