Canadians paying the federal carbon price got a midsummer drop today with the first half of their annual “climate action incentive” payment deposited into their bank accounts. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is promoting the payments at various stops in the Ottawa area today, calling them a way to “bring Canadians together” in the fight against climate change without causing them financial hardship. People who filed their 2021 tax returns in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan received deposits Friday to cover half of the amount they expect to receive for the 2022-23 fiscal year. The rest will be paid in quarterly payments in mid-September and mid-January. It is the first time the carbon price cash has been sent quarterly rather than a single lump sum hidden in tax credits, as the federal government tries to make the payments more visible. However, the success of this effort may be limited, as many Canadians have seen the deposit vaguely labeled in their online accounts, including as “federal payment,” “Canada Fed” and “EFT Credit Canada.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 15, 2022.
