Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger made the announcement in La Ronge on Thursday. (Image Credit: Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

Replaces GST rebate

Federal grocery benefit starts today for northern Saskatchewan residents

Jun 5, 2026 | 12:24 PM

Some residents in Saskatchewan should start seeing a new federal grocery benefit today.

Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River MP Buckley Belanger said the one-time payment is part of the transition to the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, which replaces the GST/HST credit in July. The federal government said more than 12 million Canadians will receive the top-up starting June 5 if they filed their taxes and qualified for the GST/HST credit earlier this year.

Belanger said the announcement is meant to make sure people recognize the money when it arrives by direct deposit or cheque.

He said affordability remains a major concern.

“Everywhere you go, people are talking about the affordability of food,” Belanger said.

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Under the program, the first payment amounts to a one-time 50 per cent increase over the usual GST/HST credit for eligible recipients. Ottawa said the renamed benefit will then rise by 25 per cent for quarterly payments beginning in July.

At a grocery store in Brampton, Ontario, today, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the benefit is to help lower-income households keep pace with the rising cost of living. Amounts vary based on the size of the household, with a single adult with no children getting up to $267 and a couple with two kids receiving a maximum of $533.

Belanger said about 343,000 people in Saskatchewan are expected to receive the payment, including roughly 36,000 in his northern riding.

“In rural, remote and northern communities, food already costs more, and families feel those increases immediately,” he said.

—

susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

by Susan McNeil

Federal grocery benefit starts today for northern Saskatchewan residents

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