Premier Doug Ford announced Tuesday eligible Ontarians will receive $200 rebate cheques early next year, amid speculation of an early election call.
Those eligible for the rebate must be 18 years old or older at the end of 2023 and have filed their 2023 income tax and benefit return by Dec. 31, 2024. They also cannot be bankrupt or incarcerated.
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 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 anyways, 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 rebate is part of the province’s upcoming 2024 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review.
The province said it will begin mailing cheques to eligible recipients in early 2025.
More to come