GST credit hike won’t solve affordability challenges alone: expert
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Proposed changes to the GST credit announced Monday by Prime Minister Mark Carney should provide some relief for lower-income Canadians, but some experts question how meaningful those savings will be.
Carney unveiled a 25 per cent hike to the GST credit in a temporary move set to last for five years, which will also issue a one-time payment this year worth 50 per cent of the credit.
Ottawa estimates the relief, being branded as the “Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit,” would provide up to an additional $402 to a single individual without children, $527 to a couple, and $805 to a couple with two children.
H&R Block tax expert Yannick Lemay says it’s a “significant” step to help Canadians hold on to money tax-free given their rising daily expenses.
NerdWallet Canada banking expert Clay Jarvis also calls it a “considerate move” by the federal government.
However, he cautions that “a few hundred dollars spread out over the course of a year won’t be enough to stabilize struggling households.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 26, 2026.
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