Eligible Ontarians to get $200 rebate cheques in early 2025

Premier Doug Ford says eligible Ontarians will receive $200 rebate cheques early next year as part of a $3-billion plan amid speculation of an early election call.

Ford and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy made the announcement in Scarborough on Tuesday, a day before the province’s fall economic statement, which serves as a mini-budget. The rebate will be part of the fiscal update.

“This money belongs to the taxpayers, not the government, and we’re giving it back to the taxpayers where it belongs,” Ford said.

Those eligible for the rebate must be 18 years old or older at the end of 2023, be a resident in Ontario on Dec. 31, 2023, have filed their 2023 Income Tax and Benefit Return by Dec. 31, 2024, and not be bankrupt or incarcerated in 2024.

The government is also proposing to provide families who qualify for a Canada Child Benefit for 2024 with an additional $200 for each eligible child under the age of 18. For example, a family of five with two adults and three children would receive $1,000 if eligible.

According to the province, the rebate is expected to provide $3 billion in support for approximately 12.5 million adults and 2.5 million children.

At a news conference in Scarborough, Ford told 680 NewsRadio it won’t be means tested, which means millionaires and billionaires will also be eligible to get it.

When asked why, Ford said, “Because they’re taxpayers. These are tax dollars going back to the taxpayers. And we’re going to give it back to every single taxpayer in Ontario.”

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said it is “completely ridiculous that millionaires and billionaires like Galen Weston are getting a $200 cheque while so many Ontarians don’t have an affordable place to call home.”

Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said she will donate her $200 cheque to the party, calling the rebate a “gimmick.”

“The premier is attempting to bribe Ontarians with their own money,” Crombie said.

When Ford was asked by 680 NewsRadio if he was trying to buy votes ahead of a possible election, he appeared to dodge the question.

“I get a laugh when you ask me these questions, but anyway, we’ve done this from day one. Six years ago, when we started, we started to put money back into people’s pockets. We put $1,600 into every transit rider’s pockets; in a family of two, $3,200, a family of four, that’s $6,400,” he replied.

The next provincial election is in June 2026, and while Ford has refused to rule out the possibility of an early election, opposition parties are preparing for a possible spring contest.

“I think this is absolutely a sign of a government that is out of ideas, out of gas, and I would say probably out of time,” said NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

The province said it will begin mailing cheques to eligible recipients in early 2025.

With files from The Canadian Press