80% of Canadians get more back than they pay. It's not a tax, it's a redistribution.

On the margin, it adds small incentives to shift consumer behaviour. Lots of people in warmer climates in Canada are shifting to e-bikes, for instance, and heat pumps are becoming increasingly common.

Sure, some Canadians are paying more than they get in rebates... like my old neighbour who commutes to work in an F-350, but that's the point. He shouldn't be driving to an office job in an industrial truck!

You tax what you want less of. Its pretty simple.

That's why the rebate.

People below a certain income and have less options get that tax money spent back.

Those who are wealthier and can afford other options like Electric vehicles and heat pumps don't get the money back. That money goes ideally towards developing green infrastructure like charging stations (no idea if they actually do, but that's the idea)

It's not wrong headed at all. There is always an alternative.

In some cases that alternative is transit. In some cases that alternative is cycling. In some cases that alternative is carpooling. In some cases that alternative is driving an existing car more efficiently. In some cases that alternative is choosing to buy a ICE smaller car. In some cases that alternative is buying a BEV.

In all those cases, even a small step will reward someone for making that choise.

I think the idea is that you will not necessarily choose near zero carbon alternatives such as cycling to work or buying an electric car. Those simply won't work for most for a variety of reasons. But by bumping the price of gas, it makes people who can't or won't choose an alternative very aware of the cost of going anywhere, and causes many to drive more sparingly by carpooling, waiting until they have multiple reasons for trips or choosing not to go out every weekend. For those with deep pockets it is probably little more than an annoyance that won't change their behaviour, but increasing fuel prices works very well to curb overall demand.