Bank balances for a good chunk of Albertans swelled a little Thursday as government began distributing carbon tax rebates.



The province estimates about two-thirds of Albertans will see a full rebate over the course of 2017. Those with direct deposit for their tax returns should already see the first of four instalments; the rest will get cheques later this month.



But for people whose jobs fell victim to the recent recession — more than 100,000 jobs were shed from the Alberta economy in 2016 — the fact that rebates are calculated using 2015 tax returns is of little comfort.



They won't see any rebate from the government until mid-year at the earliest, after filing their 2016 returns.



Deputy premier Sarah Hoffman said Thursday relying on tax returns was a deliberate move to make it as easy as possible for Alberta families to get a rebate, but she understands the concerns of the recently unemployed.



"That’s why we’re working hard to diversify the economy, to make sure we have jobs in renewables, have jobs in supporting Alberta families, as well as building pipelines," she said.



In the interim, she said, Albertans will be able to apply for energy efficiency grants in the spring.



Edmonton family Sean Collins and Rene Beaulac, along with their 18-month-old son, Bo, are among the six per cent of Albertans who will get a partial rebate.



Collins has his own green energy company that converts end-of-life oil and gas wells into long-term electricity production assets. He also helped found Student Energy, a global non-profit "committed to transitioning the world to a sustainable future."



He supports the government's carbon tax, and on Thursday, as rebates started rolling out, hosted Hoffman in his home.



Collins worked 100-hour weeks on the oil rigs to pay for university.



He's "wildly proud" of what Fort McMurray did for him and his family, he said, but is also "wildly proud of what this administration is doing, because we are average Albertans."



"I’m tired of there being such a focus on the short term, and glad that there is finally a long-term plan in place for our province," he said.



The government expects to pay out $95 million in carbon tax rebates by the end of March.



The scheme provides $200 to a single adult earning up to $47,500 annually and $300 to a couple earning up to $95,000, while parents who qualify will receive up to $30 per child to a maximum of four children.



The cost of the tax to Albertans has been widely debated.



The official Opposition puts it into the thousands of dollars for every household, while the government estimates the average single Albertan will pay $240 to $260 more for gasoline, natural gas and indirect costs this year, and a typical couple will pay an extra $310 to $330.



egraney@postmedia.com



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