Ottawa owes Sask. businesses $300M in carbon tax rebates: CFIB
A non-profit that advocates for businesses says the federal government is stalling on carbon tax rebates.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says Ottawa owes $2.5 billion in carbon tax rebates to small and medium-sized businesses across the country.
For Saskatchewan, the CFIB says the federal government owes $300 million in rebates or about $7,000 per Saskatchewan small business.
"Over the past five years, since the revenue was collected, we've actually only seen less than one per cent of rebates being distributed to small businesses," SeoRhin Yoo, a policy analyst for the CFIB told CTV News.
"Ottawa owes Saskatchewan small businesses almost $7,000 each in rebates."
The CFIB is urging Ottawa to issue the rebates to businesses.
"We're calling on the federal government to immediately distribute those funds," Yoo said.
The Ministry of Environment said it's working on issuing the returns, but did not provide a timeline of when businesses can expect their cheques.
"The Government of Canada is working hard to launch these fuel charge return programs and will have more details to share soon," the Ministry of Education told CTV News in an email.
The government said the rebates will be distributed in two phases. Phase one includes businesses in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan.
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are involved in phase two.
SaskEnergy announced it will no longer collect the federal carbon tax from residences as of Jan. 1, 2024, but will still collect the carbon tax from commercial customers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Pack the macaroni necklace: Lessons on evacuations from a woman who fled one of Canada's worst wildfires
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
NEW 'Ugly produce': One way Canadians are shrinking rising grocery bills
As the cost of food in Canada has risen, grocery shoppers are looking at ways to reduce their grocery bill, and more are choosing price over beauty, turning to companies that deliver so-called 'misfit' produce at a fraction of the cost.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
Miller scores late as Canucks grind out 3-2 win over Oilers in Game 5
J.T. Miller scored in the final minute of the game and the Vancouver Canucks came back for a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series Thursday.
Father charged with second-degree murder in daughter's stabbing death
A father has been charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his 34-year-old daughter in southern Quebec.
B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
122 active wildfires burning across Canada, 32 considered 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.