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Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: What You Need to Know About Tomorrow's Payment

  If you've ever received a GST/HST credit payment from the CRA, there's a good chance money is landing in your bank account tomorrow — and this time, it could be noticeably bigger than usual. On June 5, 2026 , the federal government is issuing a one-time top-up payment to more than 12 million eligible Canadians as part of the transition to the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) . Here's what the payment is, how much you could receive, and what changes are coming in July. What Is the June 5 Payment? The June 5 deposit is a one-time GST/HST credit top-up — equal to 50% of your annual GST/HST credit entitlement for the 2025–26 benefit year. Think of it as a bonus mid-year payment on top of your regular quarterly schedule. This payment is part of the federal government's bridge between the old GST/HST credit and the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which officially launches in July 2026. The goal is to get money into Canadians' hands now, b...

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Pharmacare in Canada: A Dream or a Reality?

 


The fate of Canada's pharmacare plan is uncertain as the federal government faces challenges in implementing a universal drug coverage program, even if a bill to create one passes in Parliament. Bill C-213, the Canada Pharmacare Act, aims to establish a national framework for pharmacare that would ensure all Canadians have access to prescription drugs based on their medical needs, not their ability to pay. 

However, the bill does not specify how the program would be funded, administered or negotiated with the provinces and territories, leaving many questions unanswered about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of pharmacare. Some experts and stakeholders have expressed doubts about whether Ottawa has the political will, the constitutional authority and the fiscal capacity to deliver on its promise of pharmacare, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that has strained the health care system and the public purse.

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