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

Weekly Market Snapshot: June 9–13, 2026


Canadian markets closed out a turbulent week on a positive note, as the Bank of Canada's decision to hold its benchmark rate at 2.25% and easing Iran tensions helped the TSX recover from a mid-week dip to finish the week up roughly 1.53%. A surprise Dollarama earnings beat gave the retail sector an additional lift.

📊 Market Scoreboard — Week of June 9–13

Index / AssetLevel (Fri. Close)Weekly Change
S&P/TSX Composite34,937.85▲ +1.53%
S&P 500 (USD)~7,431▲ ~+0.6% wk
Dow Jones (USD)51,202▲ +0.7% Fri
CAD/USD0.7160▼ Modest pressure
WTI Crude Oil (USD/bbl)~$84.29▼ 8-wk low
Gold (USD/oz)~$4,226▲ ~2.8%

Sources: Yahoo Finance Canada, Trading Economics, TMX Money. Figures reflect approximate Friday close / intraday levels as of June 13, 2026.

🔑 5 Things That Moved Markets This Week

1 — Bank of Canada Holds at 2.25%

The BoC held its benchmark rate steady on Wednesday, June 11 — as widely expected after Canada's May jobs report came in with a blowout 88,000 new positions, effectively closing the door on a near-term cut. The hold was priced in, but the accompanying commentary kept markets cautious about the rate-cut timeline for the rest of 2026.

2 — Iran Tensions Rattled Energy & Bond Markets

Escalating U.S.–Iran tensions dominated headlines early in the week, with President Trump threatening further strikes. The TSX dipped to a three-week low of 34,151 on Thursday before recovering. By Friday, Trump signalled that U.S. strikes had concluded and negotiations were close — oil prices pulled back roughly 3.4% on the week as Gulf supply fears eased.

3 — Dollarama Surges ~9% on Q1 Beat

Dollarama (TSX: DOL) was the TSX's standout performer after reporting Q1 net sales of C$1.85 billion — above the C$1.82B forecast — and EPS of C$1.05, topping the C$0.99 estimate. Peers Loblaw (+1%) and Alimentation Couche-Tard (+2%) also advanced. The results signal that Canadian consumers continue to trade down to value retailers amid persistent cost-of-living pressure.

4 — CUSMA/Free Trade Uncertainty Returns

Trump signalled mid-week that Washington may not renew the free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico — even as renegotiation talks continue. The comment added to a broader risk-off tone on the TSX and weighed on the Canadian dollar, which remained near the 71.5¢ USD level throughout the week.

5 — Gold Shines as a Safe Haven

Gold futures climbed roughly 2.8% on the week to ~$4,228 USD/oz as investors sought shelter from geopolitical risk. Barrick Gold added ~1.5% on the TSX. The yellow metal's continued strength underscores investor unease about both inflation and global instability heading into summer.

🗓️ What to Watch Next Week

  • U.S. Federal Reserve: Markets will be closely watching any Fed signals on its own rate path — particularly after stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data last week.
  • Iran–U.S. negotiations: Any resumption of hostilities — or a formal deal — could move oil prices sharply in either direction.
  • Canadian inflation data: May CPI figures, due mid-month, will be a critical input for the BoC's next rate decision.
  • CUSMA trade talks: Any developments on the Canada–U.S. trade renegotiation timeline could move the loonie and export-sensitive sectors.

The Bottom Line

This was a week defined by competing forces: solid Canadian jobs data and a BoC hold suggested economic resilience, while geopolitical risk, trade threats, and a softer loonie reminded investors that 2026 remains anything but smooth sailing. With gold near all-time highs and oil pulling back on de-escalation signals, the coming weeks hinge heavily on what happens in the Middle East — and in Washington.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment