Climate change is a real threat to Canadians' quality of life and to our growing economy. We need to take serious action to protect our communities, our economy, and our planet in a way that's affordable for people. To help fight climate change and the carbon pollution that causes it, the Government of Canada took action to make sure there is a price on carbon pollution across the country. The federal carbon pollution pricing system is being applied in provinces and territories that requested it and in jurisdictions that do not have their own system in place that meets the federal benchmark requirements.
To help make life more affordable for people as Canada fights against climate change and transitions to a clean economy, the Government made a commitment to fully return the direct proceeds from the carbon pollution pricing system to the province or territory they came from. In provinces that do not meet the benchmark requirements, the bulk of direct fuel charge proceeds is being returned to eligible individuals and families through Climate Action Incentive payments. Most households will receive more in Climate Action Incentive payments than they will pay in increased costs resulting from carbon pollution pricing.
The Government also committed to returning the remaining direct proceeds to help schools, hospitals, small and medium-sized businesses, colleges and universities, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous communities offset additional costs as a result of carbon pollution pricing and improve their energy efficiency.
In keeping with his authority under the Budget Implementation Act, 2019, No. 1, the Minister of Finance specifies the Ministers of Environment and Climate Change, Natural Resources, Crown-Indigenous Relations, and Indigenous Services as the Ministers responsible for providing programming to these groups based on estimated carbon pollution pricing fuel charge proceeds in 2019-20.
The Minister of Finance also specifies the 2019-20 proceeds that may be disbursed, as set out in the table below, together with the purposes of those amounts and the provinces in which the amounts are to be disbursed through programs delivered by the Ministers. This programming may be delivered in 2019-20 and/or 2020-21.
