A grocery aisle at a Metro supermarket in Quebec, photographed in 2018. File photo.
Photo credit: Wilfredor
OTTAWA — The federal government is proposing a one-time grocery benefit supplement for early 2027 that could provide up to $339 to a single person without children and $679 to a couple with two children.
Announced in Budget 2026, the payment would equal 50 per cent of the maximum annual Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit for the July 2026 to June 2027 benefit year. The amount each household receives would depend on income and family circumstances.
The benefit, previously called the GST/HST credit, supports Canadians with low and modest incomes. Eligibility for the 2026–27 benefit year is calculated using adjusted family net income reported on 2025 tax returns. The Canada Revenue Agency generally determines entitlement to the existing benefit from filed tax returns.
The budget's draft legislative amendments identify January 2027 as the proposed payment month. Parliament would need to approve the necessary changes to the Income Tax Act before the supplement could be paid. The federal government estimates the measure would cost approximately $4.1 billion.
No payment has been authorized under the new proposal, and the government has not confirmed an exact payment date.
The B.C. government says 6,588 shelter spaces were available across 63 communities as of Nov. 1, a figure that includes year-round beds, seasonal winter shelters and spaces activated only during extreme weather.