Government decreases carbon-tax rebate amounts for 3 provinces

The federal government has decreased the carbon tax rebates Canadians can expect in the new year in three provinces that have not adopted carbon pricing models that meet federal requirements.

The government also has added Alberta to the mix after that province's United Conservative party government repealed the previous government's consumer carbon tax.

The biggest drop in the rebate will be in Saskatchewan, where the federal Finance Department says a family of four will qualify for rebates totalling $809 in 2020, down from the $903 projected last year.

In Ontario, the rebate for a family of four has been set at $448, down from $451, while families in Manitoba will receive $486, a decrease from $499.

A family of four in Alberta will see a rebate of $888 in 2020.

The rebates are meant to offset the added consumer costs resulting from Ottawa's carbon tax of $20 per tonne of carbon emitted into the atmosphere for 2019; the tax rises to $30 per tonne in 2020.

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The Trudeau government has maintained that most households will receive more money back through the rebates than they pay in carbon tax on things such as gasoline and home-heating fuels.

Here are the rebate amounts for individuals and families, by province, in 2020, according to a government statement:

Alberta:

• Single adult or first adult in a couple — $444
• Second adult in a couple or first child of a single parent — $222
• Each child under 18 — $111
• Baseline amount for a family of four — $888

Ontario:

• Single adult or first adult in a couple — $224
• Second adult in a couple or first child of a single parent — $112
• Each child under 18 — $56
• Baseline amount for a family of four — $448

Manitoba:

• Single adult or first adult in a couple — $243
• Second adult in a couple or first child of a single parent — $121
• Each child under 18 — $61
• Baseline amount for a family of four — $486

Saskatchewan:

• Single adult or first adult in a couple — $405
• Second adult in a couple or first child of a single parent — $202
• Each child under 18 — $101
• Baseline amount for a family of four — $809