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The GST/HST Credit Has a New Name — And It's Paying 25% More

  Sunday, July 19, 2026 If you've relied on the quarterly GST/HST credit, that name is gone for good. Here's what replaced it, how much more it's worth, and whether you need to do anything to get it. For years, the GST/HST credit quietly landed in millions of Canadian bank accounts every three months — a modest, tax-free top-up meant to offset sales tax on everyday purchases. As of this month, that program no longer exists under its old name. It's now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) , and the federal government has permanently increased the payment by 25%, locked in for five years. If you already qualified for the GST/HST credit, you don't need to apply for anything new. But you should know what changed, because the numbers — and the timeline — are more involved than a simple rename. What actually changed The CGEB was first announced by the federal government in January 2026 as part of a broader affordability push, and it became law with the passa...

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Washington Warns of Trade Measures Over Global Shipping Emissions Plan

 

A cargo ship full of shipping containers departs the port of Oakland at the San Francisco Bay, California


The United States has formally rejected the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) “Net-Zero Framework,” a proposal aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions from the global shipping sector, and has threatened retaliatory measures against countries that support it.

In a joint statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy declared the Trump administration’s “unequivocal” opposition to the plan, arguing it would raise costs for U.S. citizens, energy providers, shipping companies, and tourists.

The warning comes ahead of an October vote at the United Nations’ shipping agency, where a two-thirds majority of ratifying member states will be needed for adoption. The U.S., one of 176 IMO members, withdrew from negotiations in April and has urged others to reconsider their support.

Supporters of the framework — including China, Brazil, and EU nations — say it is essential to curb the nearly 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions generated by maritime transport. Many major shipping companies have already pledged to achieve net-zero operations by 2050, with industry groups calling for incentives such as carbon levies to offset the higher cost of green fuels.

The dispute underscores the widening rift between Washington and other IMO members over climate policy in the shipping industry, a sector responsible for moving roughly 80% of world trade.

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