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Thanksgiving Dinner Costs 10% More. So Why Is Grocery Inflation Only 2.8%?

  Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and if you're still planning the grocery run, the numbers are not in your favour. Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab prices a turkey dinner for four at $35.72 this year, up 10% from $32.48 in 2025. Here's the catch: Statistics Canada says grocery prices rose just 2.8% in August, and that was the first time in more than two years that food inflation came in below the overall rate (3.0%). So why does the holiday table feel so much pricier than the grocery aisle overall? The turkey is doing most of the damage Dalhousie's basket covers a 7-lb whole turkey plus potatoes, carrots, dinner rolls, pumpkin pie, cranberries, stuffing and gravy. Here's how the pieces moved: Item (dinner for four) 2025 2026 Change Turkey dinner, total $32.48 $35.72 +10.0% The turkey itself (7 lb) $10.43 $12.53 +20.1% Everything else (sides, pie) $22.05 $23.19 +5.2% Ham dinner, total $34.87 $36.37 +4.3% Source: Dalhousie Agri-Food Analytics Lab (totals, t...

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Federal government unveils new dental insurance plan for low- and middle-income Canadians

 

The federal government has announced the details of its new dental insurance plan, which will offer dental benefits to low- and middle-income Canadians who do not have private insurance.

The plan, which was a condition of the Liberals’ supply-and-confidence deal with the NDP, will be phased in gradually over 2024, starting with seniors over the age of 87, then children under 18 and people with disabilities, and finally all eligible Canadians in 2025.

The program will cover preventive teeth cleanings, treatments and removable dentures, and will be administered by Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. The government expects the plan to benefit about 9 million people and cost $13 billion over the first five years.

To qualify, applicants must be Canadian residents with a household income under $90,000 and no private insurance. The government will check the criteria against tax filings and require employers to report on dental coverage. People who do not file their income taxes will not have access to the program.

The government said the plan will complement existing federal and provincial dental health benefits, but it is still negotiating with individual provinces on which program will be the primary payer.

The Liberals said the plan is part of their commitment to build a more inclusive and fair society, and to address the oral health needs of millions of Canadians who cannot afford dental care.

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