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1 in 4 Canadians Can Only Afford the Minimum Payment on Their Credit Card

  Published August 24, 2026 · Canadian Money Brief A new survey from Equifax Canada puts a hard number on something a lot of us have felt creeping up all year: credit cards are doing more of the heavy lifting in Canadian budgets, and fewer people are paying them off. Of more than 1,500 Canadians surveyed, a quarter said they expect to make only the minimum monthly payment on their credit card, and another 7% think they'll fall behind entirely. That leaves just over half — 56% — who expect to pay their balance in full each month. The survey also found that 40% of respondents are spending more overall than they were a year ago, more than double the 18% who say they're spending less. Nearly 3 in 10 said they're leaning more heavily on credit cards to cover essentials like groceries and utilities, and close to a quarter are dipping into savings to keep up with everyday costs. More than a third have cut back on contributions to savings, investments, or education funds to make ro...

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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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