Millions Of Canadians Are Set To Get A 'Grocery Rebate' Of Up To $234 Each

The federal government has announced initial details of a new "grocery rebate" which would attempt to combat the rising cost of living in Canada.

On Tuesday, March 28, the government laid out the 2023 federal budget, which included a number of measures that it says would "make life more affordable for Canadians."

The so-called grocery rebate is expected to benefit as many as 11 million households and would be offered to help offset the rising cost of food and other groceries.

In a release shared on Tuesday, the Department of Finance explained, "Groceries are more expensive today, and for many Canadians, higher prices on essential goods are causing undue stress."

Described as "targeted inflation relief," the government says the rebate would be for "the Canadians hardest hit by rising food prices."

It's not clear yet exactly who will qualify for the support, but officials say around 11 million low- and modest-income Canadians will benefit from it.

The grocery rebate would offer up to $234 for a single person with no children, up to $467 for a couple with two children and around $225 for senior citizens.

The expected cost of implementing the rebate is around $2.5 billion.

Earlier this week, a government source told CBC News that the feds will not oversee how the payments are spent and won't require the money to be used specifically for groceries.

What's more, the one-time payment is not expected to be based on each individual's usual grocery expenditures and would instead be a "targeted measure that won't add fuel to the inflation fire."

The government source said that, under current plans, the one-time rebate would be facilitated through the GST credit.

Of course, the feds must still get the legislation to implement the budget passed before any major moves can be made.

Exactly how long it will take for Canadians to see this grocery rebate will likely depend on how quickly the budget is approved.

However, the feds say it will be rolled out "as soon as possible following the passage of legislation."

Additional details about exactly who would qualify for the money and how the amount would be calculated have yet to be confirmed.

The grocery rebate is just one of a number of affordability measures that Trudeau's government laid out during Tuesday's budget.

The government also shared its plans to crack down on "junk fees" — including unexpected, hidden, and additional fees — which could make things like telecom roaming charges, event and concert fees, baggage fees, and shipping costs cheaper.

This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.