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 The GST/HST Credit Has a New Name — and a Bigger Payout The GST/HST credit has officially been replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) .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...
Senate Republicans Advance Trump's Tax Cut Agenda Amidst Controversy
In a significant political move, U.S. Senate Republicans have passed a budget blueprint aimed at extending President Donald Trump's 2017 tax cuts. The measure, approved after an intense late-night session, allows Republicans to bypass the Senate's filibuster and proceed with tax, border security, and military priorities without Democratic support.
The blueprint proposes making the 2017 tax cuts permanent, which reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. However, the individual tax cuts, set to expire this year, are also included in the plan. Critics argue that the measure could add $5.7 trillion to the federal debt over the next decade, though Republicans estimate the cost at $1.5 trillion.
Democrats have voiced strong opposition, warning that the plan could jeopardize Medicaid and other essential programs. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the move as favoring the wealthy at the expense of middle-class Americans.
The measure now heads to the Republican-led House of Representatives for further debate. Its passage marks a pivotal step in advancing Trump's economic agenda, though it faces significant scrutiny and potential hurdles in the coming weeks.
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