P.E.I. inflation relief cheques to begin rolling out to Islanders

Relief payments promised by the P.E.I. provincial government to help ease the bite of inflation will be issued this week.

The province announced in a release July 4 that payments will begin to be issued to Islanders who are enlisted in direct deposit with the CRA as of July 5.

More than 90,000 Islanders will receive direct payments of up to $150, the province said.

The cheques will target those making less than $50,000 per year.

Islanders earning less than $35,000 a year will be eligible for a one-time payment of $150, while those earning between $35,000 and $50,000 per year will be eligible for a payment of $100.

“As we emerge from a global pandemic and face significantly high inflation due to global events, we know that as a government we have to deliver whatever support we can within our provincial means, to help people,” said Premier Dennis King.

“We are proud to partner with our federal colleagues to reach more than 90,000 Islanders with this support payment.”

The payments were promised as part a $20 million worth of relief programs announced in March.

The relief will be combined with the provincial carbon rebate and quarterly HST rebate cheque funded by the province and distributed by the CRA.

“As our residents continue to feel the impact of price increases, this initiative coupled with other targeted supports that we have announced, will help those who are feeling the effects everyday,” said Finance Minister Darlene Compton in the release.