2.64M B.C. drivers still waiting for gas rebate announced in March
Millions of drivers are still waiting for their rebate cheques issued when gas prices reached record highs in British Columbia, and although prices continue to climb, they shouldn't expect anything more in the mail.
Premier John Horgan promised B.C. drivers a bit of help back in the spring. He said the provincial government would send out $110 cheques to most people with auto insurance, an effort to help make ends meet after prices reached all-time highs in February.
The premier said the cheques would be issued through the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. The initiative would cost $396 million.
TIMELINE
Initially, drivers were told to expect their cheques in May into June, but as of the first week of July, millions are still waiting.
In an email to CTV News this week, a spokesperson from ICBC said the rebates started to go out in June, and that nearly 600,000 customers have received their money.
Those who pay for their insurance through direct deposit or credit card got the rebate first, as planned.
Another 260,000 cheques sent by mail have been processed, ICBC said, bringing the total to 860,000.
But millions more are waiting.
ICBC said the total number of relief rebates issued will be about 3.5 million. The latest update suggests 2.64 million haven't received the rebate they were told about in March.
ICBC was asked by CTV News for a timeline for the remainder, but did not provide specifics initially, saying only that another 200,000 cheques are scheduled to go out this week.
In a later email, the Crown corporation said it is on track to send the rest of the cheques by the end of the month.
Prior to that update, this article contained a hypothetical outline of how long it would take if ICBC intended to continue sending 200,000 per week.
In that scenario, it would take 13.2 weeks, meaning some drivers would be waiting until October.
Fortunately for those counting on the money, ICBC says that won't be the case.
ANOTHER REBATE?
At the time, the rebate was first promised, the industry blamed the Russia-Ukraine conflict for the pain at the pumps. The record was then 214.9 cents per litre.
Prices never really went down after that.
Drivers have paid less here and there, but they've also paid more.
Over one weekend in June, gas stations were charging as much as 236.9 cents per litre in the Metro Vancouver area.
Despite the fact that drivers are paying quite a bit more at times than they were in February, when the rebate was announced, there is currently no plan for an additional rebate, ICBC told CTV News.
And so far, the provincial government has not followed the lead of others that have directly intervened with prices.
Last week, Ontario opted to cut the provincial gas tax, causing an 11-cent drop in the per-litre price for gas.
Before that, Alberta took the step of halting its gas tax of 13 cents per litre in March, in an effort to help drivers struggling with the costs.
In B.C., no action has been taken beyond what the province said was a one-time rebate cheque, which drivers criticized as potentially not even covering one tank of gas, depending on the vehicle.
The unprecedented gas prices also didn't change a plan from the government to increase the provincial carbon tax on April 1.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.