The carbon tax and rebates are set to increase as of April 1, 2023, in four Canadian provinces, including Alberta. (Photo: Korzeniewski | Dreamstime.com)

By Canadian Press

Carbon price and rebates rising Saturday in Ontario, Prairies

Mar 30, 2023 | 2:31 PM

OTTAWA, ON — It will cost many Canadians a bit more to fill their gas tanks or heat their houses next month as the national carbon price rises Saturday in the three Prairie provinces and Ontario.

At the same time, the government is increasing the size of the carbon price rebate cheques issued to families in those provinces to offset the cash crunch to family budgets.

The carbon price is meant to encourage people to cut back on their use of greenhouse-gas emitting fuels, while the rebate accompanies it to prevent most families from being worse off financially as a result.

A new report Thursday by the Parliamentary Budget Officer says those rebates will exceed the direct costs of the carbon price paid by a majority of families.

The report warns the economic impact of the carbon price on jobs and incomes could mean families are worse off in 2030 however it does not compare that to the economic impact climate change could on jobs and incomes.

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The overall carbon price is rising by $15 per tonne of emissions produced, adding another 3.3 cents to each litre of gasoline, and about 5.9 cents to a cubic metre of natural gas.

GasBuddy.com reports the average price for regular unleaded gas in Lethbridge as of March 30, 2023, is 133.9 cents per litre. That is four cents from the same time last week but down 36 centrs from one year ago.

Prices in Lethbridge are currently slightly lower than the Alberta average of 136 c/L and considerably down from the national average of 150.9 c/L.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 30, 2023.

The Canadian Press

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