Canada PRO Deposit Dates 2024

There are some changes to your Canada PRO deposits this year.

Payment amounts for all four government programs that fall under the Canada PRO deposit are going up.

Let’s take a look at the programs that fall under the Canada PRO umbrella, how much the payments are for each, and when you can expect payments for 2024.

Key Points

• Canada PRO encompasses 4 provincial government programs in Alberta and Ontario.
• These programs provide tax-free benefits to alleviate financial burdens among low to moderate-income residents of Ontario and Alberta.
• Payment amounts have increased slightly for each program, providing a little more money to those who are eligible for these benefits.

What Is Canada PRO? 

If you see a deposit in your bank account under the name Canada PRO, this means that you have received a payment from one of the four Canada PRO programs. These programs are tax-free benefits that help low to moderate-income residents of Ontario and Alberta with some of the costs that they encounter.

If you get the Canada PRO deposit, you can use the money to pay down whatever you see fit. It can go toward bills, repaying personal loans, or rent. Plus, you don’t have to worry about your credit score. Receiving the benefit doesn’t impact it at all.

To qualify for any of the Canada PRO deposit programs, you need to file your income taxes. Also, any Canada PRO deposit will go toward your debt if you owe the government any money.

What Are The Canada PRO Programs?

There are four Canada PRO programs: 

• Northern Ontario Energy Credit
• Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit
• Ontario Sales Tax Credit
• Alberta Child and Family Benefit

The three Ontario programs combined are known as the Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB). If eligible, your annual entitlement here is divided by 12 with payments issued monthly. 

Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB)

If you are a resident of Ontario and see a deposit in your bank account under the name Canada PRO, it’s likely the money you receive from the Ontario Trillium Benefit. The OTB comprises three different programs. Your deposit amount will depend on which of the programs you qualify for.

Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)

The Northern Ontario Energy Credit exists to help low- to moderate-income residents of Northern Ontario cover the higher energy costs that they face. 

Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC)

The Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit helps low- to moderate-income residents of Ontario cover some of the costs of property taxes and sales taxes on energy.

Ontario Sales Tax Credit (OSTC)

The Ontario Sales Tax Credit is designed to give money to low- to moderate-income residents of Ontario to help balance out some of the sales tax they pay.

Alberta Child and Family Benefit (ACFB)

If you are a resident of Alberta and see a deposit in your bank account under the name Canada PRO, it is likely the money you receive from qualifying for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit. 

The Alberta Child and Family Benefit provides payments to low-to-moderate-income Alberta families with children under 18. It consists of a base component, which all families get, and a working component, which families receive if their income is over $2,760.

Canada PRO Payment Dates 2024

The Canada PRO payment dates are dependent on the programs you are enrolled in and whether you’ve signed up for direct deposits.

The Alberta Child and Family Benefit is paid quarterly each year from August to May (August, November, February, May).

The Ontario Trillium Benefit is usually paid between the 8th and 10th of each month.

Check out these other tax credits for parents.

Who Is Eligible For The Canada PRO Programs?

Your eligibility for Canada PRO programs depends on where you live and what your income is.

Northern Ontario Energy Credit

You may be eligible for the Northern Ontario Energy Credit if you are a resident of Northern Ontario and pay rent or property tax in Northern Ontario. This includes Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Algoma, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Kenora, Timiskaming, Cochrane, Manitoulin, and Rainy River.  

To qualify for the NOEC, you’ll also need to meet any one of these conditions: 

• Be 18 years or older before June 1st of the year you pay your taxes. For example, for the tax year 2023, you would need to be at least 18 years old by June 1, 2024.
• Have a spouse or common-law partner
• Are a parent who lives or lived with their child

Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit

You may be eligible for the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit if: 

• You are a resident of Ontario and pay rent or property tax in Northern Ontario or;
• You live in a designated Ontario university, college, or private school residence or;
• You or someone else paid for your home energy costs for your principal residence that is on a reserve.

To qualify for the OEPTC, you’ll also need to meet any one of these conditions: 

• Be 18 years or older before June 1st of the year you pay your taxes.
• Have a spouse or common-law partner
• Are a parent who lives or lived with their child

Ontario Sales Tax Credit

You may be eligible for the full Ontario Sales Tax Credit if you are an Ontario resident who meets one of the following conditions before June 1st of the year you pay your taxes. 

• Be 19 years or older
• Have a spouse or common-law partner
• Are a parent who lives or lived with their child

Alberta Child and Family Benefit

To be eligible for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit, you must:

• Be the parent of one or more children under 18
• Be a resident of Alberta
• Meet the income criteria
• File a tax return

The benefit amounts are reduced once your family’s net income exceeds $25,935 (for the base component of the benefit) or $43,460 (for the working component of the benefit).

The amount you can get under the program depends on your income and family composition. 

ACFB payments are not taxable. You may still qualify for the ACFB even if you collect any of the following:

• Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)
• Income Support
• Alberta child care subsidy

How To Apply For The Canada PRO Payment?

As mentioned, the Canada PRO payment is a payment of a combination of government benefits. Depending on the program, the requirements to apply will vary.

• Alberta Child and Family Benefit – Applying for the ACFB is simple as it doesn’t require any forms. You simply need to fill out your annual income tax return. The government will automatically check if you qualify for the benefit.
• The Ontario Trillium Benefit – To apply for the OTB, you’ll need to file your income tax return and include in it the ON-BEN Application Form. The CRA will review your application then and determine if you’re eligible for the OTB.

How Much Is The Canada PRO Payment Amount?

Your Canada PRO payment amount depends on which of the programs you qualify for and how much that program pays out. 

Alberta Child and Family Benefit

The amount you and your family receive from the Alberta Child and Family Benefit depends on two factors: the number of children you have under the age of 18 and your household income.

Low-income families can receive the base amount depending on the number of children they have. Regardless of whether or not they have an income.

• Families who earn an income of more than $2,760, are also eligible for the working component.
• The base amount received is reduced once families earn more than $25,935 net.
• The working component amount received is reduced once families earn more than $43,460 net.

Maximum Benefit Amounts 2023

Northern Ontario Energy Credit

With the Northern Ontario Energy Credit, you can receive up to $180 per year if you are single and have no children or $277 for single parents or couples. The credit is reduced by 1% of your adjusted net income over $48,526 if you are a single individual with no children. Similarly, if you are a single parent or are part of a couple, your credit will be reduced by 1% of your adjusted family net income over $62,391.  

Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit

How much you receive for the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit depends on several factors that we outlined above. 

The amount you’re eligible for depends on the following factors: 

• Your age
• Your marital status
• Property taxes you paid (or had paid on your behalf)
• Rent you paid if the rental accommodations were charged municipal and education property taxes
• Energy costs you paid for living on a reserve
• Accommodation costs you paid to live in a public or non-profit long-term care home
• Whether you lived in a university, college, or private school residence in Ontario

The maximum amount you can receive from the OEPTC is as follows:

• $1,248 for non-senior residents
  • $277 for the energy component
  • $971 for property tax
• $1,421 for senior residents
  • $277 for the energy component
  • $1,144 for property tax

Check out the Government of Canada’s calculation sheet to determine how much you qualify for.

Ontario Sales Tax Credit

The Ontario Sales Tax Credit is a tax-free payment made to low- and moderate-income residents of Ontario to cover the cost of sales tax paid. You can receive up to $360 per year for each adult and each child in a family, based on the 2023 tax year. 

If you are an individual with no children making an adjusted net income of over $27,729, your payment will be reduced by 4%. Similarly, if you are a single parent, are married, or are living common-law with an adjusted family net income of over $34,661, your credit too will be reduced by 4%.

What Happens If My Household Status Changes?

If there is a change in your household status, your eligibility for the Canada PRO benefit could change. For instance, you may be eligible for less or more money, or you may be bumped out of the program. Here are some examples where a household status change could affect your eligibility:

• You move out of Ontario or Alberta. You must be a resident of one of these provinces to receive the respective provincial benefits. If your family leaves the province, you may be required to return some of the funds you received for the months you weren’t living in the province.
• You have another child. If the size of your household increases with the addition of another child, you could be eligible for a higher benefit amount going forward.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regularly reviews eligibility for this program based on information it receives regarding changes to your household status:

• If your household qualifies for a higher benefit amount, an additional payment will be issued to you for the difference.
• If your household qualifies for a lower (or no) benefit amount, you’ll be informed by the CRA that any money you receive over what you’re entitled to will have to be returned.

Additional Reading

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Payment Dates 2024

How To Pay Fewer Taxes In Canada

Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Payment Dates 2024

Bottom Line

Canada PRO is a payment that you will receive if you are eligible for one or more of the following benefits: the Northern Ontario Energy Credit, the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, the Ontario Sales Tax Credit, and the Alberta Child and Family Benefit. These benefits are designed to help low to moderate-income residents of Ontario and Alberta cover some of the costs they may encounter. Each has eligibility criteria, which often include income, family status, and where you live.

Canada PRO FAQs