An independent registry of Northern Ontario funding Data updated Aug 17, 2026 · CC-BY-4.0
Northern Ontario Grants

Homeowners, energy retrofits

The live program for Northern Ontario homeowners is Home Renovation Savings, launched January 2025 and reported confirmed through November 2026: rebates on insulation, air sealing and heat pumps, reported up to $7,500 for cold-climate air-source and $12,000 for ground-source systems, with amounts and eligibility depending on how your home currently heats. There are two paths: Enbridge gas customers, and homes heated with electricity, oil, propane or wood. That second path is exactly the rural Northern Ontario profile, and many qualifying households don't know it. The Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed to new applicants, ignore stale lists still promoting it (the companion interest-free loan is reported still open; verify before planning around it). Income-qualified households can get free upgrades through the Energy Affordability Program. One rule above all: enrol and get assessed before buying equipment.

Start at Home Renovation Savings

One program, two eligibility paths split by heating fuel, Enbridge gas customers on one, electrically/oil/propane/wood-heated homes on the other. Rebates cover insulation, air sealing and heat pumps (reported up to $7,500 air-source / $12,000 ground-source, varying by existing fuel). Participating-contractor and process requirements apply, so read the program steps before hiring anyone.

Sequence before spending

Rebate programs generally require enrolment and any required assessment before purchase, retroactive claims are typically ineligible. The order is: check eligibility, enrol, assess, then buy. Reversing it is the most expensive mistake in this category.

Income-qualified: free, not rebated

The Energy Affordability Program provides free energy-saving upgrades for income-eligible households, a different track from the rebate programs, and worth checking first if you qualify, because free beats a rebate.

Adding a unit? Check your city's Housing CIP

Several northern cities fund new residential units through Community Improvement Plans, Thunder Bay's housing grants are reported at $20,000 per one-bedroom and $30,000 per larger unit (while funds last), and North Bay's at up to 75% of costs to $25,000 per unit in serviced areas. Rules and target areas are municipal; call your city's planning or economic development office.

Programs for you (7)

Common questions

  • What rebates can I get for a heat pump in Northern Ontario?
  • Is the Canada Greener Homes Grant still available?
  • My rural home heats with wood, oil or propane, do I qualify for anything?
  • Do I need an energy assessment before I start?
  • Is there help for adding a rental unit to my house?

Longer answers are in the guides.

Common questions

Is the Greener Homes Grant really gone?

Closed to new applicants, yes, many grant lists online are stale on this. Home Renovation Savings is the live rebate route in Ontario; the federal interest-free Greener Homes Loan (reported up to $40,000) is reported still open, but verify its current status before counting on it.

Do I have to be an Enbridge customer to qualify?

No. Home Renovation Savings has a separate path for homes heated with electricity, oil, propane or wood, which covers a large share of rural Northern Ontario housing. The rebate structure differs by fuel type, so check your specific path.

Can I claim a rebate for a heat pump I already installed?

Generally no, these programs require you to enrol and follow their process before purchase and installation. If you're mid-project and haven't enrolled, stop and check the program steps before spending anything further.