Crossfield residents could be affected by a clawback of rural carbon rebate payments after the Canada Revenue Agency confirmed the town falls within Calgary’s metropolitan boundary.
The CRA said it conducted a review of the supplement in 2024 to ensure individuals living outside of Census Metropolitan Areas were receiving the correct payments.
"In 2024, the CRA undertook a review of the CCR rural supplement to make sure those living outside of Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA) were receiving the full payments to which they were entitled," a media spokesperson for the CRA stated in the emailed response.
"This review identified individuals who qualified for the rural supplement but did not receive it, and individuals receiving the rural supplement who were not entitled to it because they live within a CMA."
The CRA confirmed in writing that it uses 2016 Census data to determine eligibility. "As per the 2016 Census data, Crossfield is part of the Calgary CMA," the statement read.
The agency also wrote that it uses maps from Statistics Canada to determine which communities fall inside Census Metropolitan Area boundaries. On the 2016 Calgary CMA boundary map, Crossfield appears inside the blue line used to define CMA eligibility for the rural rebate.
The Canada Carbon Rebate — formerly known as the Climate Action Incentive Payment — is a tax-free amount to help eligible individuals and families offset the cost of the federal pollution pricing. It consists of a basic amount and a supplement for residents of small and rural communities.
According to the CRA’s website, the rebate was renamed in 2024. From 2021 to 2023, it was known as the Climate Action Incentive Payment (CAIP), and from 2018 to 2020 it was issued as the Climate Action Incentive (CAI), claimed annually on tax returns.
The CRA stated it is required to adjust payment discrepancies to maintain a fair and equitable tax system and to comply with the Income Tax Act.
Eligible individuals who should have received the supplement but did not will receive an extra payment on April 15, 2025, for the applicable prior years. Those who were not entitled to the rural supplement will be notified that there is an outstanding amount to be repaid or that their tax refunds or credits will be offset by the outstanding amount.
According to the agency’s written statement, impacted individuals will begin receiving formal notifications on April 15. Those who have already had their 2024 tax returns assessed may have had refunds offset or will see an amount owing in their CRA My Account.
"In many cases, the amount will be deducted from the final CCR payment to be issued starting on April 22," the agency wrote.
The CRA’s website confirms the federal government ended the Canada Carbon Rebate for individuals on March 15, 2025. The final payment will be issued starting April 22, and no further quarterly payments will follow.
"This does not represent a change in CCR eligibility requirements," the agency stated, "but rather results from a review the CRA conducted to ensure the accuracy of those receiving the rural supplement."
Anyone experiencing financial hardship who has an amount to repay is encouraged to contact the CRA’s benefits and credits line at 1-888-863-8662.
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