Ontario government issues over 11 million rebates. But for some, cashing them is still a problem

Bank notes issued by the Bank of Canada are seen in a display case at the Bank of Canada Museum in Ottawa, on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang (The Canadian Press)

Some Ontarians are continuing to run into issues cashing their $200 tax rebate cheques.

CTV News Toronto has heard from more than two dozen readers who say their cheques have “bounced” or “failed to clear” in recent days.

Carole Giroux, who banks with CIBC, says her rebate that she received on Jan. 29 bounced days later on Feb. 4., after she tried to do e-deposit through the mobile app. She says she hasn’t yet spoken to the bank.

Donna Cottle, a TD Bank customer, says that when she attempted to deposit her cheque at an ATM on Jan. 29, it was rejected. Though she was later able to deposit it using the mobile banking app on Feb. 4.

CTV News Toronto asked the Ministry of Finance whether it was aware of any ongoing issues with the cheques and a spokesperson would only say that “the government is committed to resolving any issues that arise to ensure that Ontarians receive their cheques.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that “approximately 11.45 million rebate payments have been issued” as of Feb. 6.

The payments, intended to help offset the rising cost of living, come just weeks before Ontarians head to the polls. The ministry spokesperson said that the government is working “as quickly as possible” to issue the cheques to all 15 million eligible Ontarians, emphasizing that cheques are still being printed seven days a week.

Bounced cheques are ‘more like a hindrance’ for some Ontarians

Last month, news that some cheques failed to clear first surfaced.

At the time, the Ministry of Finance said that it was aware of a “printing issue” at RBC that led to some rebates not clearing but that less than .002 per cent of the cheques mailed to that point had been affected.

“We understand RBC has taken immediate action to credit any accounts affected and ensure that any associated charges are also reimbursed,” the ministry said then.

The government did not provide CTV News Toronto with any updated number for how many cheques might have been impacted by the issue.

TD customer Alexis Braun told CTV News Toronto her cheque also “failed to clear” in recent days. She described the situation as “frustrating,” adding the rebate is “supposed to assist but now seems more like a hindrance.”

“TD claims it’s a ServiceOntario issue, and ServiceOntario claims it’s the banks' issue,” she wrote in an email.

Two other customers who bank with CIBC also wrote to CTV News Toronto to share stories of rebate cheques bouncing within the last week.

CTV reached out to CIBC for comment about the rise of bounced cheques, but a spokesperson noted they hadn’t seen or heard of any issues from their end.

RBC, for its part, has previously said that “on very rare occasions,” its authentication protocols may cause cheques to be returned when they should have been processed.

CTV also reached out to Canada’s other major banks, but none provided a response in time for publication

‘This was rolled out too fast with poor planning’

Nick Delaney, a Toronto resident who banks with TD, told CTV News Toronto that “it’s been frustrating” waiting for his rebate in the mail. He checks daily and remains hopeful it will arrive soon.

“It’s a tease when the government, provincial or federal, rolls out a financial boost, and you end up being the last one to get it,” he wrote in an email to CTV News. “This was rolled out too fast with poor planning.”

“I just hope I get it, period. It would really give me a boost that we all need.”

Michael Murray, a Whitby resident who also banks with TD, said in an interview with CTV News Toronto that waiting for his rebate has been “stressful,” adding that his low-income family could use the money for daycare, diapers, or groceries.

“Even if I was a single person with no kids, the $200 wouldn’t be enough,” he said. “I think government rebates should be increased… quarterly payments would be a lot better than a one-time cheque.”

Murray describes the rebate process as “unorganized” and believes a direct deposit system would be more efficient than mailing physical cheques.

“It would be more beneficial if it was direct deposit because technically, you could fall asleep, wake up, and the money is already there,” he said. “I have a friend whose cheque bounced five times, and her husband hasn’t received his yet.”

For its part, the Ministry of Finance has previously said that the cheques will land in Ontarians mailboxes “by late January or early February.”

The ministry has also set up an online portal that allows Ontarians to check on the status of their cheques by following this link.