Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland
said Thursday that the federal government would issue promised “grocery rebate”
payments in “just a few weeks.” But, according to the Canada Revenue Agency,
they won’t land in the bank accounts of eligible Canadians until July.
In an email to CTVNews.ca, the CRA confirmed that it plans
to implement the food inflation-focused benefit within eight weeks, in line
with the next pre-scheduled quarterly GST/HST credit payments.
“Pending enactment of the proposed legislation, the Canada
Revenue Agency expects to issue the grocery reimbursement to eligible
individuals on July 5, 2023,” CRA spokeswoman Sylvie Branch said.
The bill implementing the $2.5 billion grocery reimbursement
offer, as well as the $2 billion in “unconditional” health care matching funds
for provinces and territories, is on track to pass the Senate at the end of
next week, after the House unanimously approved it in April.
The one-time affordability measure was included in the March
2023 federal budget, and Freeland chose to remove this proposal from the main
budget implementation bill to try to get these payments administered more
quickly.
But, even with the final parliamentary seal of approval only
days away, those hoping to receive this federal financial aid will have to wait
two more months.
“It’s our liberal government that will deliver a grocery
rebate in a few weeks to 11 million Canadians who need it most. That’s liberal
compassion, that’s looking out for each other,” Freeland said during a panel
discussion. at the Liberal Party of Canada convention in Ottawa.
This refund is a rebrand of the GST tax credit increase
delivered last fall, and as such will be provided through the same system. For
those who normally receive the GST tax credit, you probably won’t need to do
anything more than file your tax return to receive the payment.
Eligible low- and modest-income Canadians are not required
to spend this one-time payment at the grocery store, but Liberals tried to
frame it as an effort to help offset the high cost of food.
Couples with two children will receive a payment of up to
$467, while eligible seniors will receive up to $225 and eligible singles will
receive up to $234.
