Step right up. Read all about it. Here it comes: Dani Dollars. Yes, Dani Dollars will be rolled out Wednesday by Premier Danielle Smith and her UCP government. Of course, Dani Dollars is not the official name of Smith's doling out of dough, just like Ralphbucks was not the official name when money was headed your way back in the day. So here is the scoop on what is called the Alberta Energy Rebate.
What You Need to Know
On July 1, after enduring skyrocketing prices at the gas pump, Albertans will see some relief. But wait—there is a change and it is a whole new deal. Up until now, depending on how high oil prices went up, part or all of the Alberta government's 13 cent per litre fuel tax would be removed. Every three months, we would find out what relief we would or would not get at the gas station, how much fuel tax we would or would not have to pay. This is different.
Now, because oil prices have been as high as they have been lately, most Albertans will score money. So beginning July 1, if you are 18 or older and have filed a 2025 tax return, you score cash. Money goes directly to you.
Payment Details
The amount you get will not rock your world, but on average the Smith government calculators figure it will provide more to you than the old-school fuel tax cut. The exact payout will be revealed Wednesday. For a two-adult household, it will obviously be double the amount. Families may also get an added benefit because others who are 18 and over in the same home will get a payout.
Note: Those at the top rung of the economic ladder will not be eligible. The Smith government wanted to direct payouts to people most in need. How much coin you have to make to not qualify for any dough will also be revealed Wednesday, but the smart money is betting if you make, let's say, a quarter of a million bucks a year, you probably will not see a dime. With no income cutoff, the people most in need would get less. Period. Full stop.
Broader Impact
But there is more, and that is why this story is of interest to more than just Albertans who feel the sticker shock at the gas station. Unlike the previous fuel tax relief, now you will get the money even if you do not drive, do not fill up the gas tank. If you do not have a vehicle, if you get around on transit or by bicycle, you get the same amount as everyone else. People on AISH and other support programs will get it. You also are not taxed on the money you receive.
This is what the politicians like to call an affordability measure, and people are feeling high prices everywhere, not just when they fuel up—if they fuel up.
