Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit

On January 26, 2026, the government announced that it will increase benefits under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit and rename the program. Bill C-19 was tabled in the House of Commons on January 28, 2026, and it proposes to provide a one time payment to individuals equal to 50 per cent of the GST credit’s annual 2025-26 value and to raise the annual credit by 25 per cent for five years starting in July 2026.

The PBO estimates that this measure will cost $12.4 billion over 2025-26 to 2030-31.