The first carbon price rebate of the year will be paid to Canadians on January 15th. The amounts granted will be the same as last fall, despite the heating oil exemption announced last fall.
In Atlantic, discounts for a family of four vary depending on the province of residence. In New Brunswick this amount is $184, while in Prince Edward Island it is $240, in Nova Scotia it is $248 and in Newfoundland and Labrador it is $328.
A person living alone in New Brunswick receives $92. The refund amount for a Prince Edward Islander living alone is $120. In Nova Scotia the discount is $164, while in Newfoundland and Labrador it is $164.
High heating oil prices
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a three-year suspension of the carbon tax on residential heating oil last fall. This measure was introduced to help households cope with the high cost of this fuel, particularly in the Atlantic.
This exception has not changed the amount of the Monday discounts, but the payments could be lower this spring.
From April, the surcharge will also be increased from 10% of the basic amount to 20% for citizens living in rural areas. This surcharge was created to compensate for the fact that people in rural areas are further from essential services and do not have access to public transport.
Nova Scotians living outside Halifax will benefit from a higher amount than city residents in April, which we think is very fair, says Liberal MP for Kings-Hant, Nova Scotia Kody Blois.
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Kings-Hants MP Kody Blois says many homeowners in Atlantic Canada can't afford a heat pump. (archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada
The MP added that about a million Canadians use oil heating. In the Atlantic there would be around 286,000.
The majority of people still use heating oil, even though it is two to four times more expensive. They continue to use it because they can't afford to change their heating system, he says.
One-time payment in New Brunswick
New Brunswick residents may be wondering why the amount they receive on Monday will be lower than the amount they received last fall.
In October a payment for two quarters was made to New Brunswickers. The amounts were $184 for a person living alone and $368 for a family of four.
This double payment is explained by the fact that New Brunswick announced its entry into the carbon pricing system later than the other Atlantic provinces. Therefore, Ottawa did not have enough time to prepare the refund on July 1, 2023.
According to CBC's Jean Laroche