The last Canada Carbon Rebate payment will be issued on Tuesday to eligible Canadians who filed their 2024 income taxes electronically by April 2. For others, the final rebate will be deposited after the Canada Revenue Agency assesses their return. This payment marks the end of the federal consumer carbon price, which was eliminated on April 1.
Unlike previous quarterly federal rebates funded by carbon tax revenues, Tuesday’s payment is not directly linked to taxes collected at the pump, making it a potential bonus or government transfer. Finance Canada has declined to disclose the total cost of this final payment, though it could be at least $2 billion based on prior rebates.
Benoit Mayrand, a spokesperson for Finance Canada, explained that the government decided to continue the April payment to help Canadian families, particularly low-income households, manage affordability.
Despite this, Green Party co-Leader Jonathan Pedneault pointed out the timing of the payment, just days before Canadians head to the polls on April 28. Pedneault suggested that the payment might be seen as a Liberal “gift” in the midst of an election campaign.
Economics professor Andrew Leach from the University of Alberta remarked that the Liberals likely had to absorb the carbon tax loss, given the confusion surrounding the tax’s implementation.
The rebate amounts for eligible adults in provinces where the federal carbon rebate applies are as follows:
- Newfoundland and Labrador: $149
- Prince Edward Island: $110
- Nova Scotia: $110
- New Brunswick: $165
- Ontario: $151
- Manitoba: $150
- Saskatchewan: $206
- Alberta: $228
Additionally, Canadians in qualifying provinces with a rural supplement will receive a 20% top-up on their rebate.
Small businesses that were eligible for the Canada Carbon Rebate will still receive their reimbursement for carbon tax paid over the past 12 months.
