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Can anyone recall a time in our history when giving people free money to spend as they pleased caused fewer environmental problems?

Yes, government rebates are nice, but they go against the entire history of civilization suggesting we sacrifice our environment for our wealth.

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So it would seem a little perverse to think giving people free money this time will suddenly change bad environmental behaviour.

Support for the federal government’s carbon pricing ($50 a tonne by 2022) went into full press mode Monday with the release of the Canadians for Carbon Dividends reportcommissioned by Canadians for Clean Prosperity, which provides a household cost-benefit analysis on how households will fare after the federal government rebate.

The report suggests a Saskatchewan low-income household earning between $20,000 and $40,000 in 2020 will pay an average $356 for carbon pricing (higher gas prices, more expensive food, etc.). However, all Saskatchewan households will be getting back $1,567, yielding a net benefit of $1,211 for the low-income household.