Premier Tim Houston and John Lohr, Housing Minister, speak at a media conference in September, 2022.

Premier Tim Houston announcing Monday that any household that was without power for 48 hours because of Fiona is eligible for a one-time payment to help offset the cost of spoiled food. 

That was part of a suite of monetary measures aimed at reducing the impact of the storm on Nova Scotians. 

“To see the damage firsthand showed me that we need to act, we need to act immediately,” Premier Tim Houston said during a media availability with Minister John Lohr, the minister responsible for Nova Scotia’s Emergency Management Office. 

The following one-time financial assistance measures were laid out by the premier: 

• $100 for every household that lost power for at least 48 hours to cover the cost of spoiled food.
• $250 for every person that has to pay for tree or debris removal from their property
• An additional $250 on top of the existing $750 seniors care grant to help with storm repairs. 
• $150 to all current income assistance recipients, including Disability Support Program participants receiving income support.
• $1,000 per household in emergency funding for people ordered out of their homes or who cannot return to their homes; people can register with the Canadian Red Cross online at or by calling 1-800-863-6582 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Houston noted that many organizations in the province wanted to help their communities, but weren’t able to. To make sure in the future help is available, some provincial money is being make available. 

Funding made available to community organizations that help people includes: 

• A $2-million fund to assist community centres with the purchase and installation of generators.
• $500,000 to Feed Nova Scotia and $150,000 in total for non-member food banks in Cape Breton and eastern Nova Scotia
• $100,000 to Salvation Army and Red Cross organizations in Cape Breton
• $100,000 in total to shelters in Cape Breton and eastern Nova Scotia to help with extra demand
• $100,000 to establish a hotel fund, administered by Cape Breton Community Housing, to provide temporary accommodations for people in shelters who cannot go back into their homes.
• $150,000 to distribute support to families in need through the SchoolsPlus program; the support will come in the form of grocery store cards and access to food, where possible.

Details about these grants and how to apply will be available soon.

The province also launched the Disaster Financial Assistance Program to help people who’s losses during the storm aren’t covered by insurance.

The program will cover up to $200,000 of uninsurable losses. That could include flood damage, damage to household appliances, such as furnaces, washers or dryers, among other things.

It’s estimated to cost the province at least $40 million.

Applications for the Disaster Financial Assistance Program are available online.

You can also pick up an application at Access Nova Scotia Centres, MLA offices and municipal offices.