Prime Minister Mark Carney kicked off the winter session of Parliament on Monday by unveiling a new plank in the Liberals’ affordability agenda.
Making the announcement from an Ottawa grocery store, the prime minister unveiled plans for the “Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit” — a 25 per cent hike to the GST credit over the next five years to help lower-income consumers deal with the high cost of groceries.
If the measure is passed, the federal government says it will also issue a one-time payment in the spring worth 50 per cent of the credit.
“Canada’s new government is acting today to provide a boost to those Canadian families who most need one, while creating a bridge to longer-term food security and affordability,” Carney said.
The government said a qualifying family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year and roughly $1,400 annually for the next four years. A single person would get up to $950 this year and about $700 for the next four years.
Carney pitches GST rebate boost as major plank of Liberal affordability agenda