Thursday, July 9, 2026 Every July, a wave of federal benefit payments resets for the new benefit year — and 2026 brings one of the biggest shifts in years. Between a permanent 25% boost to the old GST/HST credit, a fresh Canada Child Benefit increase, and the largest quarterly OAS bump of the year, millions of Canadian households will see different numbers land in their accounts this month. Here's what actually changed, and what to check in your own CRA account. The GST/HST Credit Has a New Name — and a Bigger Payout The GST/HST credit has officially been replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) . It's not a new program from scratch — it runs on the same CRA infrastructure and eligibility rules — but the payment amounts are 25% higher, and that increase is locked in for five years. The first CGEB payment went out on July 3, 2026. Under the new structure: A single individual with no children can receive up to roughly $679 per year (about $170 per quart...
In a dramatic courtroom exchange, Judge Juan Merchan admonished former President Donald Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche, for what he deemed a lack of credibility during the ongoing criminal trial related to hush money payments. The trial centers around a 2016 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, allegedly to boost Trump’s electoral prospects.
Merchan expressed visible frustration with Blanche’s defense, stating, “You have presented nothing.” The judge further criticized Blanche’s assertion that Trump had carefully adhered to the gag order preventing him from publicly criticizing witnesses. “You’re losing all credibility with the court,” Merchan declared.
Blanche attempted to argue that Trump had not intended to violate the gag order, but Merchan remained unsatisfied. When Blanche suggested there were “two systems of justice” in the courtroom, referencing the imprisonment of Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, Merchan sharply responded, “Is that what you are saying?”
The contempt hearing intensified as Blanche defended Trump’s social media posts as mere responses to attacks, yet failed to provide clear examples. The trial continues to captivate the nation as it marks the first time a former U.S. president faces criminal charges.
Stay tuned for further developments in this historic case.
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