Despite the federal government's announcement that most Albertans will be receiving more money back from the government as part of the re-branded Climate Action Incentive Payment, now known as the Canada Carbon Rebate, the province was critical of the announcement.

In a joint statement, Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz said that the federal government's program is 'flawed environmental activism'.

"The federal carbon tax is universally known as a resounding failure. The carbon tax has punished Canadians while failing to reduce emissions. Canadians are struggling to pay a carbon tax on top of the federal government’s self-inflicted inflation crisis. We know that the carbon tax is costing Alberta families hundreds of dollars each year."

On Wednesday, the federal government announced the new amounts that a family of four in different provinces can expect from the program every three months. A family of four in Alberta could see an estimated $64 increase from 2023 payments, totalling $1,800 throughout the year or $450 quarterly, in comparison to the 2023 amount of $386.

On average, the first adult in a household in Alberta will see $225 coming back to them through the program, while those living in rural areas will see $270. 

Comparing payments to other provinces, Albertans receive back the second-highest amount through the program.

  • $1,200 in Manitoba ($300 quarterly);
  • $1,120 in Ontario ($280 quarterly);
  • $1,504 in Saskatchewan ($376 quarterly);
  • $760 in New Brunswick ($190 quarterly);
  • $824 in Nova Scotia ($206 quarterly);
  • $880 in Prince Edward Island ($220 quarterly); and,
  • $1,192 in Newfoundland and Labrador ($298 quarterly).

In April 2024, residents of Alberta and the other provinces will receive their first of four quarterly Canada Carbon Rebate payments, with additional payments in July, October, and January.

In addition to the base Canada Carbon Rebate amounts, starting this year, the federal government said that it is proposing, through legislative amendments in Bill C-59, to double the rural top-up to 20 per cent, this in 'recognition of rural Canadians’ higher energy needs and more limited access to cleaner transportation options.'

Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, said that putting a price on pollution is the lowest-cost way to reduce the pollution causing climate change while putting more money in the pockets of Canadians. 

"It is a cornerstone of our climate plan, accounting for about one-third of all our emission reductions by 2030. Without Canada’s revenue-neutral carbon pricing system, the cost to Canadians and the Canadian economy to achieve our emissions reduction goals by other means would be far greater."

The federal government said that the name change was to reflect and clarify the function of the program and make its meaning and relationship to the carbon pricing system more intuitive for Canadians.

"The Canada Carbon Rebate (previously known as the Climate Action Incentive Payment) is how the federal government returns the proceeds of carbon pollution pricing to families in provinces where the federal backstop system applies."

However, Premier Smith and Minister Schulz were skeptical of the name change.

"In an act of desperation, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have the audacity to try and ‘rebrand’ the carbon tax – a cynical and desperate ploy that will fail. No ‘rebrand’ will save the federal government from its dwindling poll numbers. No speeches or sound bites will make a difference."

Smith and Schulz added that the government continues to strive to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2050.

"We are confident this can be done without a consumer carbon tax, and we’ll continue to call on Minister Guilbeault to end his relentless pursuit of a more expensive Canada and to work with us instead."

The federal government claims that through the Canada Carbon Rebate, eight out of 10 families in backstop provinces receive more money back than they pay into the system, with lower-income households benefiting the most. To be eligible to receive the Canada Carbon Rebate, Albertans need to file their annual tax return.

"To receive the rural top-up, rural residents must check the corresponding box on their tax return. For Canadians who are registered for direct deposit with the Canada Revenue Agency, the Canada Carbon Rebate will be deposited directly into their bank account every three months."

Otherwise, the Canada Carbon Rebate will be delivered via cheque. For those who have a spouse or common-law partner, the person who files their tax return first will receive the Canada Carbon Rebate amount for all members of the household, including children. 

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