The province announces relief grants for Nova Scotians who have lost income due to wildfires

The Nova Scotia government is offering short-term grants for residents who have lost income as a result of the recent wildfires in Shelburne County and the Regional Municipality of Halifax.

The Emergency Relief Grant for individuals will provide $275 or $550 per week, depending on the magnitude of the impact, the provincial government announced Thursday.

To qualify, residents must live or work in one of the areas that were required to evacuate during the wildfires, or experienced business disruption due to fires. Self-employed persons who are unable to conduct their business (permanently or temporarily) may also qualify.

Employees and self-employed persons who do not receive employment insurance or who are in an employment insurance waiting period may also qualify, as can volunteer firefighters who did not have access to paid voluntary leave from their employers.

New grant follows other wildfire relief

The emergency relief grant is one of several relief programs the county has launched in the wake of the recent wildfires.

Last month, Prime Minister Tim Houston announced that households in evacuated areas across the county could apply for a one-time grant of $500 to cover incidentals.

Financial assistance has also been provided to farmers in Nova Scotia affected by the fires in the form of a one-time grant of $2,500.