Skip to main content

Featured

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

article

Labels

Health Canada Faces Scrutiny Over $20M Pharmaceutical Loss

 

A worker puts an Ontario sticker on a load of hundreds of ventilators as they are loaded on to an airplane destined for India in Toronto on Tuesday May 18, 2021.


Health Canada has confirmed that more than $20 million worth of pharmaceutical products from the national emergency stockpile were lost this year due to what officials describe as a “temperature deviation.” The incident, disclosed in the 2025 public accounts, has raised questions about the management and oversight of Canada’s critical medical reserves.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the affected pharmaceuticals included vaccines and other essential medicines stored for emergency use. While the agency insists the loss will not compromise the stockpile’s ability to respond to public health crises, it has refused to specify which products were destroyed, citing national security concerns.

The cause of the temperature deviation remains unclear. Health Canada has not indicated whether the issue stemmed from a single incident or multiple failures in storage systems. The lack of transparency has prompted criticism from observers who argue that Canadians deserve more accountability when taxpayer-funded resources are wasted.

The national emergency stockpile plays a vital role in safeguarding Canadians during pandemics, natural disasters, and other health emergencies. It contains medical supplies, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals that can be deployed rapidly in times of crisis. The revelation of such a significant loss underscores the challenges of maintaining sensitive medical products that require strict temperature controls.

While Health Canada maintains that the stockpile remains robust, the incident highlights the importance of improved monitoring systems and stronger safeguards to prevent similar losses in the future. As public trust hinges on the reliability of Canada’s emergency preparedness, calls for greater transparency and accountability are likely to intensify in the months ahead.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment