Liberals’ grocery rebate bill now law

Justin Trudeau

Canada’s Department of Finance says the grocery rebate the Liberals announced in this year’s federal budget will be extended to eligible Canadians on July 5.

The confirmation comes after Bill C-46, the Cost of Living Act, No. 3, received Royal Assent last week.

The government has billed the one-time payment as targeted inflation relief for some 11 million low- and modest-income households.

Eligible families will receive up to $467 by direct deposit or cheque from the Canada Revenue Agency, while single people without children will get up to $234 and seniors will see a rebate of up to $225.

The new law also enshrines a $2-billion top-up to the federal health transfer that seeks to reduce backlogs and wait times and support pediatric hospitals and emergency rooms.