The Government of Canada has rebranded the carbon tax rebate and increased the amounts Canadians will receive. (Photo: Korzeniewski | Dreamstime.com)

By David Opinko

Carbon tax rebate amounts increasing in April, rebranding stirs controversy

Feb 15, 2024 | 9:31 AM

Your next carbon tax rebate will be higher than normal.

The federal government announced that it is increasing the amounts of money Canadians receive from the program, beginning with the April 2024 installment.

In Alberta, residents will get $450 each quarter, an increase of $64.

Ottawa is also proposing to double the rural top-up to 20 per cent through legislative amendments to Bill C-59.

Federal Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the carbon tax is a key way of putting money back into peoples’ pockets while also helping the environment.

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“When carbon pollution pricing is done right—as we are doing here in Canada—it effectively reduces emissions and makes life more affordable for Canadians by ensuring they receive more back than they pay,” said Freeland. “That’s why every three months, we are delivering hundreds of dollars back to families through the Canada Carbon Rebate—which gives eight out of 10 families more back than they pay—while ensuring big polluters pay their fair share.”

Along with the announcement of the upcoming payment amounts, the government also unveiled that the Climate Action Incentive Payment is now known as the Canada Carbon Rebate. The change was made to eliminate any confusion when people see it in their bank statements or file their taxes.

Provincial officials in Alberta, however, are not impressed with the rebrand.

In a statement from Premier Danielle Smith and Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz, they say the federal government, in what they call “flawed environmental activism,” not only failed to reduce emissions, but raised the cost of everything.

“No ‘rebrand’ will save the federal government from its dwindling poll numbers. No speeches or sound bites will make a difference,” said Smith and Schulz. “Canadians will see it for what it is: a tax on the fuel they use to drive their kids to school, a tax on the food they buy, a tax on the businesses that they run, a tax on everything.

The Albertans politicians say they are confident that a carbon-neutral economy can be achieved without the need of a carbon tax, but Smith and Schulz have been advocating for Ottawa to extend its net-zero electricity target from 2035 to 2050.

More details on the changes to the carbon tax rebate are on the Government of Canada website.

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