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  Thursday, July 9, 2026  Every July, a wave of federal benefit payments resets for the new benefit year — and 2026 brings one of the biggest shifts in years. Between a permanent 25% boost to the old GST/HST credit, a fresh Canada Child Benefit increase, and the largest quarterly OAS bump of the year, millions of Canadian households will see different numbers land in their accounts this month. Here's what actually changed, and what to check in your own CRA account. The GST/HST Credit Has a New Name — and a Bigger Payout The GST/HST credit has officially been replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) . It's not a new program from scratch — it runs on the same CRA infrastructure and eligibility rules — but the payment amounts are 25% higher, and that increase is locked in for five years. The first CGEB payment went out on July 3, 2026. Under the new structure: A single individual with no children can receive up to roughly $679 per year (about $170 per quart...

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Protesting farmers block crossings on Dutch-Belgian border

 


Farmers have blocked key road crossings on the border between Belgium and the Netherlands in their latest protest against excessive red tape and competition from cheap imports. The protests began on Thursday night on the Belgian side, with some Dutch farmers joining later. The roadblocks have caused significant traffic congestion and disrupted freight transport from the major European ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam.

The latest protest comes less than a day after Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, met with farming groups in a bid to appease them. The farmers are protesting against the increasing regulatory burden and competition from cheap imports, which they say is making it difficult for them to make a living.

The protests have been peaceful so far, but there are concerns that they could escalate if the farmers’ demands are not met. The Belgian and Dutch authorities have urged the farmers to remove the roadblocks and engage in dialogue to resolve their grievances.


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