Laila Goodridge, House of Commons 2025. File Photo
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney appears to be responding to pressure from Canadians and members of Parliament as the House of Commons resumes sitting, with food affordability emerging as an early focus of the new session.
For weeks, Conservative MPs, including Fort McMurray–Cold Lake MP Laila Goodridge, have pressed the government to act on rising grocery costs. In a recent social media post, Goodridge said “Canada is #1 in the G7 for food price inflation,” citing a 6.2 per cent increase in the price of groceries, which is higher than all other G7 countries.
One of the first pieces of legislation introduced by Carney’s government aims to address food inflation through changes to the GST credit. The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit will deliver a one-time boost in the first year, increasing the annual GST rebate for a family of four from about $1,100 to $1,890, and for an individual from roughly $540 to $950.
Beginning next year, the GST rebate will rise by 25 per cent for four additional years, providing up to $1,400 annually for a family of four and about $700 for an individual.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has stated that his party will allow the GST top-up legislation to pass, telling the House of Commons that Conservatives will not stand in the way of measures providing relief tied to food costs.
The government states that the enhanced credit will be rolled out this year through the existing GST rebate system, with increased payments continuing over the next five years.
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