Households across Dartmouth—Cole Harbour receive Canada Carbon Rebate payments four times a year. (If for some reason you aren’t getting yours, please call my office for help at 902-462-6453)
These rebate payments are made possible because we put a price on pollution. And if the price on pollution goes up, the rebate payments go up too.
Whether it’s the Canada Child Benefit, increases to Old Age Security, or $10/day childcare—affordability is always front and centre for everything we do. That’s why the vast majority of Canadians get more money back through the Canada Carbon Rebate than they pay, because BIG polluters pay the most.
Oh, and the Government of Canada does not even keep a penny from the carbon price on pollution. This is how the rebate payments to households are made possible.
How much is my family’s Canada Carbon Rebate payment every 3 months?
A family with two parents and two children in the home receives $206 every 3 months! That’s $824 per year.
If you and your household filed income tax and benefit returns, you should receive your family’s Canada Carbon Rebate every April, July, October and January. Here is some more info on this.
Here is how it works:
$103 for an individual
plus
$51.50 for a spouse or common-law partner
plus
$25.75 per child under 19
plus
$51.50 for the first child in a single-parent family
(It is a bit different if you live in a rural area but you can find that info here https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/cai-payment/how-much.html)
Why are the Conservatives refusing to mention the rebate?
I don’t like partisan politics but it’s clear that the Conservatives are spreading disinformation and fear for political gain. The fact is, Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives ran on a carbon price in the last election, just as we did, yet they’re spreading disinformation and trying to ruin the rebate for households. Pierre doesn’t care that most families are better off.
Under the federal system, 8 out of 10 Canadian families get back more than they pay. This is a fact. The Conservatives don’t bother mentioning the rebate because they aren’t interested in letting facts get in the way of their slogans and sound bites.
Why price pollution at all?
It’s indisputable that greenhouse gas emissions resulting from human activities cause global climate change. This isn’t just a problem for future generations, it’s a huge problem for people today. That’s why so many countries around the world, including the entire European Union, and even countries like China are pricing pollution. If we could tackle acid rain in the 1990s we can tackle climate change today.
Here in Nova Scotia, we are feeling the brutal impacts of climate change through record severe storms and sea level rise. Just look at the past two years in Atlantic Canada—the loss of life, property, and infrastructure is immense, and so expensive. We’ve spent the past few years helping families across Canada reduce emissions in their homes and their vehicles, and pricing pollution is the best way to reduce emissions at the lowest cost to everyday people. And the mechanism we use ensures that 8 out of 10 families get more money back than they pay—ensuring that affordability remains top of mind.
What is the impact of the price on pollution on grocery prices?
Severe weather intensified by climate change, Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and even the pandemic have spiked grocery prices around the world. We’re working to diversify and strengthen Canada’s grocery supply chain, while holding major grocery chains accountable. And it’s just another reason we continue to strengthen Canada’s social safety net.
As for the impacts of the price on pollution on grocery prices, economists, like University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe, estimate that the price on pollution accounts to less than a percentage, or around 30 cents on a $100 grocery bill. As you can see, the Canada Carbon Rebate payments more than make up for this, ensuring families come out on top.
Is a price on pollution causing inflation and is this why interest rates are high?
Inflation has been hitting countries around the world and it’s been tough for so many people. However, carbon pricing doesn’t have much of an impact at all on inflation in Canada. And thankfully, inflation has been going down. The Bank of Canada states that carbon pricing has a negligible impact on interest rates, accounting for, at the most, 0.15%.
Is there a carbon price on pollution on home heating oil?
No. Home heating oil is very expensive and we’re working to help households get off oil as soon as possible as it is also inefficient and dirty. Many homeowners took advantage of the Canada Greener Homes program and now we’ve increased the Oil to Heat Pump Affordability Program to help low and modest income Nova Scotians switch over their home entirely from oil heat to a more efficient system that will save them money. The carbon price on pollution will remain paused on home heating oil until April of 2027 to give homeowners more time to make the switch.
Why do you call it a price on pollution, isn’t it a carbon tax?
The Government of Canada does not keep the proceeds from this regulatory charge, and the Supreme Court reaffirmed that a price on pollution is NOT a tax: https://www.scc-csc.ca/case-dossier/cb/2021/38663-38781-39116-eng.aspx
When did the price on pollution first come into effect across Canada?
2019.
Since 2019, the Government has ensured it is no longer free to pollute by establishing a national minimum price on carbon pollution. From 2019 until 2023 Nova Scotia had their own carbon pricing plan, however Premier Houston chose to scrap the NS plan, and since July 1st, 2023, the federal rebate program has been in effect.
I have more questions about this!
Sure, please give us a call at 902-462-6453. We’re always happy to chat with you. Leave us a voice mail if we can’t pick up right away. We’ll call you back!
(Information current as of 2024-03-20)