Minister Michel highlights the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit

SAINTE-THÉRÈSE, QC, Jan. 30, 2026 /CNW/ - The global landscape is rapidly changing, leaving economies, businesses, and workers under a cloud of uncertainty. In response, Canada's new government is focused on what we can control: building a stronger economy to make life more affordable for Canadians. Affordability pressures--especially those related to food--require immediate support for Canadians.

Today in Sainte-Thérèse, QC, the Minister of Health, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, visited La Moisson - Supermarché Santé to highlight how the government is working to put more money back in the pockets of those most affected by the rising price of food, and to tackle food insecurity, across a range of fronts.

As announced on January 26 by the Prime Minister, the government is proposing the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit to help more than 12 million low- and modest-income Canadians afford day-to-day essentials, including around 2.8 million in Quebec.

To bring down costs, the government is :

• increasing the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit – formerly the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Credit by 25% for five years beginning in July 2026.
• In addition to that, we are providing a one-time payment, equivalent to a 50% increase this year.

Combined, this means that a family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year, and about $1,400 a year for the next four years; and a single person will receive up to $950 this year, and about $700 a year for the next four years.

The government also announced a suite of measures to tackle food insecurity, support producers and strengthen supply chains, including:

• Setting aside $500 million from the Strategic Response Fund to help businesses address the costs of supply chain disruptions without passing those costs on to Canadians at the checkout line.
• Creating a $150 million Food Security Fund under the existing Regional Tariff Response Initiative for small and medium enterprises and the organizations that support them.
• Introducing immediate expensing for greenhouse buildings to lower the cost of food production. This allows producers to fully write off greenhouses acquired on or after November 4, 2025, and that become available for use before 2030. This measure supports increased domestic supply and investment in food production over the medium-term.
• Providing $20 million to the Local Food Infrastructure Fund to ease immediate pressures with food banks. This supports food banks and other national, regional, and local organizations to deliver more nutritious food to families in need.
• Developing a National Food Security Strategy to tackle the root causes of food insecurity – one that strengthens domestic food production and improves access to affordable, nutritious food.
• This strategy will also include measures to implement unit price labelling and support the work of the Competition Bureau in monitoring and enforcing competition in the market, including food supply chains.

Quotes

"Many Canadians feel the pressure of daily expenses, including the high cost of groceries and other basic goods. And as we know, food insecurity correlates strongly with poor physical and mental health. To cope with the difficulties and upheavals we are experiencing, we must give Quebecers and Canadians back the means to achieve their ambitions, because when Canadians are healthy, they can take care of their families, contribute to their communities and build a strong economy."

The Honourable Marjorie Michel
Minister of Health

"Families are telling us clearly: the cost of groceries has become unbearable. So we listened to the community and local organizations, and we're taking concrete steps to put more money back in the pockets of those who need it most."

Madeleine Chenette, M.P., Thérèse-De Blainville

Quick Facts

• Under the proposed Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit:
  • A single senior with $25,000 in net income would receive a one-time top-up of $267 plus a longer-term increase of $136 for the 2026-27 benefit year (total increase of $402). In total, they would receive $950 for the 2026-27 benefit year (including the top-up).
  • A couple with two children with $40,000 in net income would receive a one-time top-up of $533 plus an increase of $272 for the 2026-27 benefit year (total increase of $805). In total, they would receive $1,890 for the 2026-27 benefit year (including the top-up).
• After the one-time payment is made in the spring of 2026, eligible families and individuals in Canada will receive the enriched regular payments under the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit as of July 2026.
• The benefit will be paid quarterly, at the start of the quarter, to permit timely access to the funds to help families with day-to-day expenses. These amounts are additional to existing benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit, the Canada Disability Benefit, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Associated links

• Prime Minister Carney announces new measures to make groceries and other essentials more affordable for Canadians | Prime Minister of Canada
• Backgrounder: The new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)

Media may contact: Emmanuelle Ducharme, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Health, [email protected]; Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]