Alberta widow asked to return carbon tax rebate
CALGARY 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, demanding she return the $195 rebate she received from the province’s controversial carbon tax.
“I literally started to bawl. I’ve got this letter from the province ... 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 Canada Revenue Agency (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 die. Postmedia has heard from more than a dozen Alberta families who received the bills, some of whom opted to pay the bills 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.
“We are working diligently to address this issue and will have more to say in the coming weeks.”
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.
Ahtila, who has an eight-yearold son and two five-year-old twin boys, said even if she felt obligated to pay back the funds, she couldn’t afford it anyway because 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.
“I can’t afford it. I have to cover the cost of the house and try to feed my children for the next five months,” said Ahtila, who runs a day home in the town about 140 km southwest of Edmonton.
“I just had to pay $11,000 to bury my husband and now they want their money back. This government has done nothing for us other than to send us bills.”