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Canadians to get one-time groceries benefit payment this summer
Eligible Canadians will get a one-time payment equal to 50% of the GST/HST credit, and the renamed benefit will start in July.
On Friday, Secretary of State for the Canada Revenue Agency Wayne Long announced that eligible Canadians will receive a one-time GST/HST credit top-up on June 5, 2026, equal to 50% of their 2025-26 benefit year credit.
Persistent grocery price increases, which have outpaced inflation since 2020 and cost the average Canadian household $782, prompted the federal government to implement this relief measure.
Households that filed 2024 tax returns and already receive quarterly credits qualify automatically; CRA figures indicate a family of four earning $40,000 receives $533, while a single person earning $25,000 receives $267.
Starting July 3, 2026, the GST/HST credit transitions into the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, with quarterly payments increasing by 25% for the next five years.
Prime Minister Mark Carney also announced a temporary federal fuel excise tax reduction to zero cents per litre, effective from April 20, 2026, through September 7, 2026.