Widow billed for carbon tax rebate despite NDP pledge to end practice

It was an unexpected slap in the face for a widowed Drayton Valley mom, which came a week after the province vowed it would no longer ask grieving families to repay carbon tax rebates.

Krista Ahtila went to her mailbox Tuesday to find a letter addressed to the estate of her husband, who died in February at age 37 following a massive heart attack at work. Hoping it may be some news about financial relief, instead it contained a bill from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), demanding she return a $195 rebate she received from the province’s controversial carbon tax.

“I literally started to bawl. I’ve got this letter from the province I grew up demanding I pay back money I can’t afford,” she said.

“It takes eight to 10 weeks for any survivor benefits to kick in, but 40 days after my husband dies, they send me a bill.

“It’s just so callous and heartless. I’m disgusted.”

Last week, the province said it had spoken with the CRA, which was tasked with administering the carbon tax rebate program, and asked them to halt the clawbacks while it works on a process to deal with recipients who pass away. Postmedia has heard from more than a dozen Alberta families that received bills, some of whom opted to pay, while others have refused.

A statement from Finance Minister Joe Ceci said it’s troubling that another grieving family has been hit with a demand for payment while suggesting it’s likely due to a glitch on the CRA’s end.

“Losing a loved one is a tragedy and the last thing grieving family members need is a letter that adds further stress,” Ceci said.

“We directed CRA, who administers the rebate, in mid-March not to send out any more letters. The removal of the letters already printed is a manual process and it was likely missed. We are disappointed that another family has received such a letter.”

When asked if Ahtila should pay the bill, an official with the ministry wouldn’t give a direct answer, suggesting the minister’s statement already addressed that issue.

For Ahtila, who has an eightyear-old son and two five-year-old twin boys, she said even if she felt obligated to pay back the funds, she couldn’t afford it anyway as she will have to wait months for Alberta’s medical examiner’s office to sign off on her husband’s cause of death, which will allow life insurance on the family’s house to finally kick in.