OTTAWA: The speculations of early elections in Ontario are rife after the Premier Doug Ford today announced the Ontario government will be giving each taxpayer a $200 tax-free rebate.
Ford made the announcement at a news conference Tuesday and said those with kids will get more.
“Because we know kids come with more expenses, parents will receive an additional $200 for every eligible child, ” he said.
That could mean that a family of five with three children under the age of 18 could receive $1, 000.
“These $200 cheques will make a big difference for families across the province, with cheques arriving early in the new year, ” Ford said.
Cutting the cheques will cost the province $3 billion, the government said.
Ford said the government is providing the rebates due to the “high costs of the federal carbon tax and interest rates” and said they can afford to do so because inflation has produced higher provincial sales tax revenue and because of the federal government’s recent changes to the capital gains tax.
Those eligible for the rebate must be 18 years or older at the end of 2023; be a resident in Ontario on December 31, 2023; have filed their 2023 Income Tax and Benefit Return by December 31, 2024; and not be bankrupt or incarcerated in 2024.
The announcement comes just a day before the Ford government is scheduled to provide a fall economic update.