(OTTAWA) The federal Department of Finance announced Thursday that the new GST rebate promised by the Liberals in this year’s budget will be paid to eligible Canadians on July 5.
Parliament this week passed the bill to implement certain provisions of the budget, which includes the payment of this one-time benefit, dubbed by the Liberals “reimbursement for groceries”.
The Liberal government introduced this benefit as a targeted inflation-fighting measure for some 11 million low- and modest-income households across the country.
This one-time benefit effectively replicates one the federal government offered last fall in response to growing cost-of-living concerns.
This is an additional Goods and Services Tax (GST) credit benefit that is effectively double the amount of the benefit that was scheduled for the month of January 2023. The benefit will be paid in July by deposit directly or by check from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Eligible families of four will receive a refund of up to $467. Singles without children will receive up to $234 and seniors could receive up to $225.
The new law also devotes an additional $2 billion in federal health transfers to the provinces. These funds are intended to reduce backlogs and wait times, and to support pediatric hospitals and emergency rooms.
Under the new agreement presented to the provinces by Ottawa last winter, Quebec will receive 447 million more this year, Ontario 776 million and New Brunswick 41.7 million.