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Grocery Benefit Pays Monday, Oct. 5: What You'll Actually Get — and Who Gets $0

  The second Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) payment lands Monday, Oct. 5, and it's the last one of 2026. Some households will see $222.50. Others will see nothing. Here's how to tell which group you're in. At a glance Payment date: Monday, Oct. 5, 2026 (tax-free) Maximum per payment: $169.75 single, $222.50 couple, plus $58.50 per child under 19 Based on: your 2025 tax return Next payments: January and April 2027 Check which number you're reading: yearly or per payment A lot of coverage this week quotes $679 for singles and $890 for couples. Those are the yearly maximums for the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year, paid in four quarterly instalments. What arrives Monday is one quarter of that. Household Max per year Max per payment Single, no children $679 $169.75 Married or common-law $890 $222.50 Each child under 19 (added on) $234 $58.50 First child in a single-parent family $445 $111.25 Most households get less than the maximum The CGEB is incom...

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Canadian Bank Fees: A Costly Affair

 

In a recent eye-opening report by North Economics, it was revealed that Canadians are paying over $7.7 billion annually in ‘excess’ bank fees. This staggering figure has sparked concern as the federal government is already taking steps to mitigate bank fees.

The Alberta-based consultancy firm’s analysis showed that the fees charged by Canada’s Big Five banks—RBC, TD, BMO, CIBC, and Scotiabank—are significantly higher than those in the U.K. and Australia. The report highlights the disparity in charges for everyday banking services, including monthly account fees, non-sufficient funds, overdrafts, and ATM usage at other banks.

Alain de Bossart, the managing director of North Economics, compared the retail banking profits to deposits ratio of 2022 between Canadian and British banks. The findings suggest that the Big Five banks in Canada had an ‘excess’ income of $7.73 billion, which translates to roughly $250 per Canadian.

The Canadian Bankers Association responded by emphasizing the value and accessibility provided by the competitive banking system in Canada. They also mentioned that a significant percentage of Canadians do not pay any account fees.

This report has intensified the dialogue on bank fees in Canada, with many calling for a more consumer-friendly approach that aligns with global standards.

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