grocery prices

government payments

Everything to know about the new federal grocery & essentials benefit, which pays out today

The federal government's new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit will see its first round of quarterly payments go out today.

The government payment was known previously as the GST/HST Credit, so people who were eligible for that program likely will receive the new benefit.

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cost of living

We compared the cost of living in Montreal vs Ottawa and the gap is kind of shocking

When most people picture an expensive Canadian city, Ottawa doesn't usually top the list. It's the capital, sure, but it has a reputation as a quieter, more manageable place to live compared to a sprawling metropolis like Montreal.

What it lacks in population size, though, it more than makes up for in expensive living costs.

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canada revenue agency

Canadians will a get a new grocery payment this week and here's how much you'll receive

If your grocery bills have been hitting harder than usual lately, some federal money is headed your way this week.

The Canada Revenue Agency is sending out a payment to eligible Canadians on June 5, and for most people it arrives automatically with nothing to apply for or fill out. The deposit works out to 50% of what you were receiving through the GST/HST credit for the 2025-26 benefit year, meaning the actual amount varies depending on your income and household size.

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cra benefits

Canadians will get a grocery payment from the CRA next week — Here's how much you can receive

Anyone who has stood at a checkout recently and done the mental math on what their grocery cart used to cost versus what it costs now already knows the gap has been widening for a while. Since 2020, food prices have climbed faster than overall inflation, adding roughly $782 in extra costs for the average Canadian household compared to what they would have spent otherwise.

Governments on both sides of the provincial divide have been responding to that pressure lately. Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette announced just this week that the province will permanently eliminate the QST on a range of everyday grocery items starting July 15, from pre-cut fruits and vegetables to granola bars, salted nuts, and individually sold muffins.

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grocery prices

Quebec is permanently scrapping QST on these grocery and pharmacy products this summer

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette announced Monday that the province will permanently eliminate the Quebec Sales Tax on a range of everyday grocery and pharmacy products, with the exemption set to take effect on July 15.

Fréchette made the announcement at a Metro grocery store in Sherbrooke, alongside Finance Minister Eric Girard. "We need to give Quebecers some breathing room," she said, pointing to the U.S. trade war, the conflict in the Middle East, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine as factors piling onto the cost of living pressures already felt across the province.

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canada news

Canadians will get a one-time grocery payment next month — Here's how much you could receive

Standing at the checkout these days can feel like a bit of a gut punch. Prices that seemed high a year ago look almost reasonable compared to what things cost now, and most Canadians have felt that shift in a very direct way.

The federal government is putting some money back in people's pockets next month to help absorb some of that pressure. On June 5, the Canada Revenue Agency will issue a one-time payment to eligible Canadians as part of a transition into a new benefit program designed to address the rising cost of food and other essentials.

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grocery prices quebec

A Quebec IGA is charging $5 for an individually-packed tomato and people are losing it

When it comes to grocery chains in Quebec, IGA usually finds itself on the more bougie end of the supermarket spectrum. And folks who shop there know their prices aren't exactly Super C territory.

But a location on the Îles-de-la-Madeleine is taking things to a new level, and people are losing it.

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canada news

Canadians are getting a new one-time grocery payment and here's how much you'll receive

You don't need us to tell you groceries are getting more expensive in Canada. And if you've stood at a checkout recently and done the mental math on what your cart used to cost versus what it costs now, you already know the gap has been widening for a while.

On Friday, the federal government announced that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is sending money directly to Canadians to help close that gap — at least a little.

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cost of living

How much does it actually cost to live in Montreal right now? We crunched the numbers

Summer in Montreal is nearly upon us. And while the season brings a ton of activities, festivals, and terrasse openings to the city, it also coincides with apartment lease expirations.

With so many people ditching Montreal for good and plenty of others making it their new home, there's no better time to take a hard look at what living here actually costs. Whether you're signing a new lease, rethinking your budget, or just trying to figure out if solo living is even realistic right now, it helps to have real numbers in front of you.

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grocery prices

We bought the same items at Provigo and IGA to see which pricey chain costs more in Quebec

When it comes to grocery shopping in Montreal, Provigo and IGA are two of the most popular options around. Both carry a solid selection, both are easy to find across the island, and both tend to sit at the higher end of the price spectrum.

But with grocery bills climbing across the board, even shoppers loyal to their go-to store might be wondering if they're leaving money on the table. To find out which chain actually costs less, we put together a cart of everyday premium items and shopped both stores, finding the exact same products at each one to keep the comparison as fair as possible.

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grocery prices

We bought the same items at 5 Montreal grocery stores to see which chain is the cheapest

If grocery shopping in Quebec already feels expensive, 2026 isn't offering any relief. Food prices continue to climb, and that same basket of basics somehow costs more every time you check out.

With experts warning that grocery bills will keep rising this year, many Montrealers might be wondering where their money actually goes the furthest.

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montreal news

We shopped for Christmas dinner at 5 Montreal grocery stores & the price difference is wild

With Christmas dinner just days away (and grocery prices set to rise in Quebec in January), we wanted to see how much the same holiday staples cost across Montreal's biggest grocery chains. From turkey and potatoes to butter and yule log, we checked prices at IGA, Metro, Super C, Provigo, and Maxi.

We tried our best to match brand quality and package sizes, but when sizes varied significantly, we compared unit prices to keep things fair. And since many stores have holiday sales running right now, we've included both sale and regular prices — because let's be honest, most of us are shopping for sales anyway.

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