InspireOil to Heat Pump Affordability Program: Apply Before July 31, 2026
A federal program pays up to $10,000 toward switching from oil heat to a heat pump, if you’re in the right 5 provinces and territories. Here’s who actually qualifies.
Updated July 5, 2026 · 9 min read · ✓ Fact-checked
If you heat with oil in Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Quebec, or Saskatchewan, this is worth checking. The federal Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program (OHPA) pays up to $10,000 CAD toward a qualifying heat pump, paid to you before installation, not as a reimbursement after. Applications close July 31, 2026.
This is a different, smaller amount than the $15,000 tier you may have read about. That higher tier only applies in BC, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI, and Yukon, a separate delivery track from the 5 provinces and territories this program covers.
Key takeaways
- OHPA covers Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Quebec, and Saskatchewan specifically, delivered directly by the federal government, not through a provincial program.
- The grant is $10,000 CAD flat for these 5 jurisdictions. The $15,000 tier reported elsewhere only applies in a different group of provinces (BC, NB, NL, NS, ON, PEI, YT).
- You apply and get approved before buying or installing anything. The payment arrives first, then you have 6 months to complete the install.
- Applications close July 31, 2026. That’s the application deadline specifically, not the deadline to finish installation or submit paperwork, those come later.
Oil To Heat Pump Affordability Program: One thing worth pairing with a new heat pump
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A heat pump runs most efficiently with a thermostat built for it. This isn’t part of the grant, just a practical add-on.
Product links in this section are affiliate links.
Who actually qualifies
You need to check every box, this isn’t a program with partial eligibility:
- Currently heat with oil. You’ll need to show at least 500 litres of heating oil purchased in the past 12 months, receipts included.
- Household income at or below the median for your province. The exact threshold depends on both your province and household size, for example a 1-person household in Saskatchewan is capped around $43,700, a 5+-person household around $127,650. Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, and the NWT each have their own figures.
- You own the home, and it’s your primary residence. Renters, landlords renting out the property, and seasonal or cottage properties are all excluded.
- The home is connected to an integrated electricity grid. This rules out some genuinely remote properties, including parts of the NWT.
- The dwelling is habitable year-round and was built at least 6 months ago. Detached, semi-detached, row and townhomes, mobile homes on a permanent foundation, floating homes, and small (2-unit or fewer) low-rise multi-unit buildings all qualify.
How much you actually get
For Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Quebec, and Saskatchewan specifically, the grant is $10,000 CAD, unchanged since the program launched in 2023. That figure has stayed flat regardless of income level or how remote your home is, it’s a binary: you either qualify for $10,000 or you don’t qualify at all.
You may have seen a $15,000 figure reported for this program. That higher amount, plus a separate $250 bonus payment, only applies in a different group of provinces and territories (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI, and Yukon), which are delivered through provincial co-delivery partners rather than directly by the federal government. If you’re in one of the 5 jurisdictions this article covers, plan around $10,000, not $15,000.
| Tier | Amount | Provinces / territories | Delivered by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal direct | $10,000 CAD flat | Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Quebec, Saskatchewan | Federal government directly |
| Provincial/territorial track | Up to $15,000 CAD + $250 bonus payment | British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI, Yukon | Delivered through provincial/territorial program |
How it actually works
Check eligibility and apply online through the Canada Greener Homes portal, using a GCKey or Sign-In Partner login. No home energy evaluation (EnerGuide) is required for this specific program, that requirement belongs to a different, now-closed grant.
Get a decision, reportedly within about 48 hours for most applicants, by email.
Accept the grant and receive payment upfront, before you’ve bought or installed anything, typically within 10 to 15 business days of accepting.
Here’s what matters most here: Install the heat pump within 6 months of receiving payment, using a contractor who can sign the required attestation confirming the system heats the whole home.
Submit your receipts and the signed contractor attestation afterward. A verification visit is possible.
The deadline that actually matters
There are 3 separate dates, and mixing them up matters:
- July 31, 2026: the last day to submit a new application. This is the one to act on now.
- January 31, 2027: the deadline to upload required documents if you’ve already been approved.
- March 31, 2027: the program closes entirely.
If you’re in Quebec specifically: this federal program is separate from Quebec’s own provincial “Chauffez vert” oil-to-heat-pump assistance, which could previously stack with it, but Chauffez vert itself ended March 31, 2026. Don’t count on combining the two going forward, verify current provincial program status separately before assuming it’s still active.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as the Canada Greener Homes Grant?
No. The Canada Greener Homes Grant was a separate program that closed to new applicants on October 1, 2025. OHPA is still active for these 5 jurisdictions, with its own rules, including no required EnerGuide evaluation.
Do I need to pay for the heat pump first and get reimbursed?
One thing worth knowing here: No, this is the reverse of a typical reimbursement grant. You apply, get approved, and receive payment before you buy or install anything.
What if I live in Ontario, BC, or another province not covered here?
You may still qualify for a heat pump grant, just through a different delivery track (a provincial co-delivery partner) with a different amount, up to $15,000 plus a possible $250 bonus. Check your own province’s program page rather than assuming these 5-jurisdiction figures apply to you.
Does a heat pump actually work in a cold Canadian winter?
Modern cold-climate heat pumps maintain efficiency well below freezing, that’s a separate technical question from this program’s rules. Ask your contractor for a unit rated for your specific climate zone.
What happens if I miss the July 31, 2026 deadline?
New applications won’t be accepted after that date, based on everything published so far. There’s no confirmed extension or renewal, the program is explicitly winding down through 2027.
Bottom line
If you’re in Alberta, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Quebec, or Saskatchewan and currently heat with oil, this is worth 20 minutes to check your eligibility before July 31, 2026. The upfront-payment structure is genuinely unusual for a government program, and $10,000 toward a heat pump is real money, just don’t confuse it with the $15,000 figure that applies elsewhere.
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