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 The GST/HST Credit Has a New Name — and a Bigger Payout The GST/HST credit has officially been replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) .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...
NDP Won’t Support Liberal $250 Rebate Plan Unless Eligibility Expanded: Singh
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has announced that his party will not support the Liberal government's $250 rebate plan unless it is expanded to include the most vulnerable Canadians. The current proposal, part of a broader affordability package, aims to provide $250 to more than 18.7 million Canadians who earned less than $150,000 in 2023.
Singh emphasized that the rebate should also cover seniors, students, people on disability benefits, and those who were unable to work last year. He initially supported the idea, believing it would benefit anyone earning under $150,000, but the current plan only includes those who had an income.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland's office responded, stating that it is "categorically false" to say seniors and people with disabilities are excluded, as many of them work and would qualify if they meet the income criteria.
The proposed measures are set to be included in the fall economic statement, with the GST holiday beginning in mid-December and lasting for two months.
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