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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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Canadian Dental Care Plan: Who Qualifies?

 

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) aims to provide essential dental coverage to those in need. To be eligible for this program, you must meet the following criteria:

  1. Canadian Residency: You must be a Canadian resident for tax purposes.

  2. Adjusted Family Net Income: Your adjusted family net income should be less than $90,000. This calculation considers various factors, including income reported on tax returns and any universal child care benefit or registered disability savings plan income received.

  3. Filed Tax Return: You must have filed your tax return in the previous year.

  4. No Access to Dental Insurance: To qualify, you must not have access to dental insurance. This includes coverage through employers, family members, pensions, professional or student organizations, or group plans from insurance companies. Even if you choose to opt out of available benefits, you are still considered to have access to dental insurance.

If you already have dental coverage through provincial, territorial, or federal government social programs, you can still qualify for the CDCP. In such cases, your coverage will be coordinated to avoid duplication or gaps in care.

Remember that providing false information on your application may result in removal from the plan, and ineligible family members may need to repay the full cost of care received through the CDCP.


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