Ottawa rebrands carbon price rebates. How much will you get?

The federal government’s Climate Action Incentive is no more — the carbon pricing rebate is getting a rebrand and will now be renamed the Canada Carbon Rebate.

The change came on Wednesday as several ministers announced affordability measures, and seemed to signal that the government recognizes Canadians may not be aware the rebate is tied to carbon pricing when it comes into their bank accounts.

“If we can speak the language that people speak because people say the words ‘carbon’, they say the words ‘rebate’,” said Labour and Seniors Minister Seamus O’Regan, “if we can speak that language, that’s important so people understand what’s going on here.”

The government says about 80 per cent of Canadians are getting more from the rebates than they pay in carbon pricing.

Rebates for this year will impact those in provinces where the federal carbon price applies. In this case, it applies to most provinces except B.C. and Quebec, which do not participate in the plan. The Northwest Territories also do not participate, meaning residents aren’t eligible for the rebate.

Last month, the first of the year’s rebates went out to residents in those provinces via direct deposit or cheque, as long as they had filed their income tax and benefit returns.

A 10-per cent supplement is also included in the pricing plan for those in small and rural communities, beyond the base payment. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in October that the amount would double to 20 per cent in April this year as recognition for the increased energy needs and reduced access to cleaner transportation options in those jurisdictions.

This year’s increased rebates, however, also coincide with the carbon price itself being hiked another $15 per tonne. This will add