Minister Ien and Minister Ng highlight the government's tax break for all Canadians and new Working Canadians Benefit

ST. CATHARINES, ON, Dec. 15, 2024 /CNW/ - The past few years have been challenging. It feels like the price of everything has gone up. While inflation has returned to the 2 per cent target and interest rates have been cut four times this year, Canadians still aren't feeling the effects in their household budgets.

The Government of Canada can't set prices at the checkout, but they can give Canadians more money in their pockets – making it easier to afford the things they need and save for the things they want.

Today in St. Catharines, the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, and Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines visited The Twisted Pig to highlight the government's efforts to put more money in Canadians' pockets.

As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on November 21, since December 14, the Government of Canada is giving a tax break to all Canadians. With a GST/HST exemption across the country, Canadians will be able to buy essentials like groceries, snacks, children's clothing, and gifts – all tax-free.

This new tax break will apply to:

• Prepared foods, including vegetable trays, pre-made meals and salads, and sandwiches.
• Restaurant meals, whether dine-in, takeout, or delivery.
• Snacks, including chips, candy, and granola bars.
• Beer, wine, cider, and pre-mixed alcoholic beverages below 7 per cent ABV.
• Children's clothing and footwear, car seats, and diapers.
• Children's toys, such as board games, dolls, and video game consoles.
• Books, print newspapers, and puzzles for all ages.
• Christmas trees.

This tax break is projected to last until February 15^th. This will deliver meaningful savings for Canadians by making essentially all food GST/HST free, providing real relief at the cash register.

Passing this legislation will allow for workers and working families to have more money in their pockets.

Families will be spending quality time together over the coming weeks. Some will light Christmas trees for Santa to put gifts underneath. Some will share meals with family and friends. Some might just make hot chocolate, order some take out, and stay in for a movie night. With these announcements, we're making the holidays easier and helping Canadians start the new year with a little more in their pockets.

Quotes

"The past few years have been challenging, and the rising cost of living has made it even harder for Canadians to make ends meet—especially women, gender-diverse people, and racialized communities who face barriers like unequal pay and caregiving responsibilities. That's why we're stepping up with a tax break to make essentials more affordable and a $250 rebate to help ease the pressure this holiday season. It's about giving people the support they need, when they need it most."

The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth

"The holiday season should be about family, joy, and making memories—not worrying about costs. By cutting taxes on essentials and delivering the new Working Canadians Rebate, we're helping families while also supporting local businesses and driving economic growth in communities across Canada. These measures not only make life more affordable but also strengthen our economy by keeping spending and jobs close to home."

Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

"Every Canadian deserves to feel relief at the checkout and a little more ease in their daily lives. With this new GST/HST exemption and the Working Canadians Rebate, we're taking real, meaningful steps to make life more affordable—so families can focus on what matters most this holiday season and beyond."

Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre

"This GST tax break helps reduce the overall cost of purchasing goods, supporting both consumers and the industry. For many, this tax break offers an opportunity to enjoy quality products at a lower price while also stimulating local businesses and promoting Canadian products."

Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines

Quick Facts

• The GST/HST would be fully relieved on the supply or importation of qualifying goods for a period beginning on December 14, 2024, and ending on February 15, 2025. Further details on the qualifying goods are available here.
  • A family spending $2,000 on qualifying goods, such as children's clothing, shoes and toys, diapers, books, snacks for the house, or restaurant meals would pay $100 less GST over the two-month period.
  • In provinces where the HST will also be removed from qualifying goods (Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island), further savings would be realized. In Ontario, the same $2,000 basket of qualifying purchases realize HST savings of $260 over the two-month period.
• Canadians who have claimed tax credits for Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan contributions or for Employment Insurance (EI) or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) premiums, and those who reported income from EI or QPIP benefits, with individual net income below $150,000 in 2023, would be eligible for the Working Canadians Rebate. Eligible Canadians would begin receiving the payments starting in spring 2025. More information on the rebate is available here.
• The government is focused on making life more affordable for Canadians, with actions that are already saving families and individuals thousands of dollars a year, including:
  • A new National School Food Program, with $1 billion over five years to provide meals for up to 400,000 more kids each year, ensuring all children have the food they need to have the best start in life, regardless of their family circumstances. The Program is expected to save the average participating family with two children $800 per year in grocery costs, with lower-income families benefitting the most.
  • More money through the Canada Child Benefit, to help with the costs of raising children and make a real difference in the lives of children in Canada. The Canada Child Benefit, which is providing up to nearly $8,000 per child in 2024-25, is indexed annually to keep up with the cost of living and has helped lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty since its launch in 2016.
  • Saving families up to $14,300 per child, per year, with the Canada-wide $10-a-day child care system, which has already cut fees for regulated child care to an average of $10-a-day or less in over half of all provinces and territories and by 50 per cent or more in all others.
  • Saving families about $730 per year with the Canadian Dental Care Plan, which is already available for children under 18, with family incomes under $90,000, because no one should have to choose between taking care of their kids' teeth and putting food on the table.

Related products

• Backgrounder: A tax break for all Canadians
• Backgrounder: the Working Canadians Rebate

Associated links

• News Release: More money in your pocket—A tax break for all Canadians and the Working Canadians Rebate­

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SOURCE Women and Gender Equality Canada

Contacts, Angie Rutera, Communications Assistant, Office of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, [email protected]; Media Relations, Women and Gender Equality Canada, 819-420-6530, [email protected]