Ottawa announces new grocery benefit supplement as Canadians struggle with living costs

OTTAWA — The federal government is introducing an additional grocery benefit payment for more than 12 million low- and modest-income Canadians as part of its 2026 budget, responding to continued concerns over food prices and household affordability.

The measure, announced Thursday, November 5, provides a one-time 50-per-cent supplement to the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit for the 2026–27 benefit year, with payments scheduled for early 2027.

Under the proposal, eligible single individuals without children could receive up to $339 in additional assistance, while couples with two children could receive as much as $679.

The new payment builds on measures introduced earlier this year, including a 25-per-cent increase in the benefit beginning in July 2026 and a separate one-time payment distributed in June.

Taken together, the federal government estimates that these measures could provide up to approximately $1,290 in total assistance for a single person without children and $2,570 for a couple with two children during the 2026–27 benefit year.

Ottawa projects that the latest supplement will deliver $4.1 billion in additional assistance and help lift approximately 120,000 people out of poverty in 2027.

The budget also proposes expanding Nutrition North Canada, which supports access to affordable food in remote northern communities.

Although the additional payments are intended to ease immediate financial pressure, rising grocery prices, housing expenses and other essential costs remain major concerns for households across Canada.

The measures form part of the Carney government’s broader affordability agenda, which combines direct financial assistance with longer-term efforts to stimulate economic growth and improve household purchasing power.