Five Facts About Alberta’s New Carbon Tax
Let’s start with the most obvious place Albertans will notice a difference: the gas station.
The carbon tax translates to an increase of 4.49 cents per litre. For a 50-litre tank, that means it’ll cost an extra $2.25 to fill up. While you’d likely rather spend that on a double-double, it’s probably not going to break the bank.
What about the much feared knock-on effects of the price on carbon? It’s estimated the tax will increase the indirect costs of consumer goods by about $50 to $70 per person in 2017.
But before you start reaching for your piggy bank: 60 per cent of Albertans will receive a full rebate for the carbon tax (all single households with a net income under $47,500 and all couples or families with a net income under $95,000). Another six per cent of households will receive a partial rebate.
In addition, the rebates are tied to income level, not the amount of energy one actually uses, meaning that Albertans can effectively make money from the carbon tax if they use a lower-than-average amount of energy — which is kind of the point.
Two-thirds of households will receive money back and the first cheques will be in the mail this month. There’s no need to apply. Albertans will automatically receive a rebate if they submitted a 2015 tax return and are under the cutoff.
What about the upper third of income earners in Alberta? They will have to pay the full cost of the tax — however, they also have the option to do things like make their homes more energy efficient or choose a more fuel efficient vehicle to reduce the cost. Rebates and incentives will be available for purchasing and installing new energy-efficient appliances, products and systems.
And investments enabled by the revenue generated by the tax — in renewable energy, public transit and energy efficiency — will make it easier for everyone to reduce their emissions.
https://www.desmog.ca/2017/01/01/five-handy-facts-about-alberta-s-new-carbon-tax
Let’s start with the most obvious place Albertans will notice a difference: the gas station.
The carbon tax translates to an increase of 4.49 cents per litre. For a 50-litre tank, that means it’ll cost an extra $2.25 to fill up. While you’d likely rather spend that on a double-double, it’s probably not going to break the bank.
What about the much feared knock-on effects of the price on carbon? It’s estimated the tax will increase the indirect costs of consumer goods by about $50 to $70 per person in 2017.
But before you start reaching for your piggy bank: 60 per cent of Albertans will receive a full rebate for the carbon tax (all single households with a net income under $47,500 and all couples or families with a net income under $95,000). Another six per cent of households will receive a partial rebate.
In addition, the rebates are tied to income level, not the amount of energy one actually uses, meaning that Albertans can effectively make money from the carbon tax if they use a lower-than-average amount of energy — which is kind of the point.
Two-thirds of households will receive money back and the first cheques will be in the mail this month. There’s no need to apply. Albertans will automatically receive a rebate if they submitted a 2015 tax return and are under the cutoff.
What about the upper third of income earners in Alberta? They will have to pay the full cost of the tax — however, they also have the option to do things like make their homes more energy efficient or choose a more fuel efficient vehicle to reduce the cost. Rebates and incentives will be available for purchasing and installing new energy-efficient appliances, products and systems.
And investments enabled by the revenue generated by the tax — in renewable energy, public transit and energy efficiency — will make it easier for everyone to reduce their emissions.
https://www.desmog.ca/2017/01/01/five-handy-facts-about-alberta-s-new-carbon-tax
