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Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: What You Need to Know About Tomorrow's Payment

  If you've ever received a GST/HST credit payment from the CRA, there's a good chance money is landing in your bank account tomorrow — and this time, it could be noticeably bigger than usual. On June 5, 2026 , the federal government is issuing a one-time top-up payment to more than 12 million eligible Canadians as part of the transition to the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) . Here's what the payment is, how much you could receive, and what changes are coming in July. What Is the June 5 Payment? The June 5 deposit is a one-time GST/HST credit top-up — equal to 50% of your annual GST/HST credit entitlement for the 2025–26 benefit year. Think of it as a bonus mid-year payment on top of your regular quarterly schedule. This payment is part of the federal government's bridge between the old GST/HST credit and the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which officially launches in July 2026. The goal is to get money into Canadians' hands now, b...

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Liberals and NDP Push GST Holiday Bill Through House of Commons


The House of Commons has passed legislation that will remove the federal sales tax for two months from a range of items, including children's toys, books, restaurant meals, and takeout, as well as beer and wine.

As expected, the NDP helped the minority Liberals push the exemption through Thursday night. The Conservatives voted against the bill, calling the measure a "temporary two-month tax trick," as did the Bloc Québécois. The bill, which the Liberals and NDP agreed to fast-track through the usual procedural steps, now goes to the Senate. Once passed, the legislation will provide a GST rebate beginning Dec. 14 and lasting until Feb. 15, 2025.

The Liberals originally pitched the tax holiday along with a plan to send $250 cheques to the 18.7 million people in Canada who worked in 2023 and earned $150,000 or less. However, some Canadians have raised concerns about being excluded from the millions who would receive those cheques. The NDP threatened to withhold support for the entire package if the government didn't split the promises into two pieces of legislation. The Liberals did not include the cheques measure in the bill the House of Commons passed Thursday night. It is unclear when they might present that legislation.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in a media statement on Wednesday that his party will support the cheque measure later if the Liberals expand it to include more Canadians, "including seniors, people with disabilities and injured workers". Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has billed the tax holiday as an affordability measure aimed at alleviating cost-of-living pressures. Some economists have cautioned that the measure could have inflationary consequences later this spring.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the government should instead adopt his policy suggestions by scrapping the carbon tax and removing the GST from new homes sold for under $1 million. "My tax cuts are not just about lowering costs. They're about sparking more production," he said.



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