Some $200 Ontario rebate cheques fail to clear

Queen’s Park in Toronto, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

The $200 rebate cheques mailed by the Ontario government failed to clear for some RBC and TD customers, but the banks say the issue has been resolved.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience it’s caused,” RBC said in a statement issued to CTV News Toronto on Wednesday.

RBC said, “on very rare occasions,” its authentication protocols may result in cheques being returned, when they should have been processed, which is what happened in this case with a “handful” of rebates.

Some TD Bank customers also experienced a similar issue. A spokesperson told CTV News Toronto that it was aware of a “small subset” of customers that had been impacted.

Both banks confirmed that affected customers have now received their $200.

CTV News reached out to Canada’s three other big banks - BMO, Scotiabank, and CIBC - to see if they are also experiencing the issue. While CIBC said it has not received reports of any problems with clearing the cheques, BMO and Scotiabank have not yet responded to the request for comment.

The cheques, which the province has billed as a way to help Ontario taxpayers navigate the high cost of living, started landing in mailboxes on Jan. 17.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Ministry of Finance said 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 seven million cheques mailed so far were 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.

One Ontario taxpayer who spoke to CTV News Toronto said she has “never” had a problem depositing a cheque, until she tried cashing in her rebate.

“This is a first and is coming at a really difficult time,” Sarah Susnar, a Peterborough, Ont. resident who banks with TD, wrote in an email. “To say I’m disappointed is an understatement.”

Susnar said the funds have since appeared in her account.

The cheques, announced by Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford back in October, will go to an estimated 12.5 million Ontario taxpayers and cost the government roughly $3 billion.

Anyone over the age of 18 who filed their 2023 tax return, and wasn’t incarcerated or bankrupt in 2024, is eligible for the rebate. Recipients will also receive $200 for each child under the age of 18.

The rebate is not means tested, meaning anyone who qualifies for the cheque will receive it, regardless of their salary.

In the fall, Ford rebuffed accusations from opposition parties that the cheques were a “gimmick” as speculation of an early election grew.

On Tuesday, Ford visited Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont and asked her to dissolve parliament and trigger a snap election. Dumont accepted the request and Ontarians will held to the polls on Feb. 27.

Anyone experiencing an issue cashing their cheque is asked to contact the provincial hotline at 1-833-351-0409.

Did your cheque fail to clear? Share your story by emailing us at [e-mail] with your name, general location and phone number in case we want to follow up. Your comments may be used in a CTV News Toronto story.