REGINA — Local food insecurity advocates are giving their stance on the new GST rebate announced by the federal government on Monday.
The new rebate will see a 50 per cent increase in top-up, with a 25 per cent increase over five years for over 12 million Canadians who are eligible based on these requirements:
- You are a resident of Canada for tax purposes;
- You are at least 19 years old (or under 19 with a spouse, common-law partner or as a parent);
- You have filed your most recent tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Based on income and family situation, the CRA will determine which Canadians meet the threshold for the rebate.
According to the government, this means a typical family of four could receive up to $1,890 this year (up from $1,100), followed by $1,400 annually for the next four years. A single person could receive up to $950 this year (up from $540), followed by about $700 a year over the next four years.
Regina Food Bank CEO John Bailey said the rebate will impact food insecurity in certain ways.
“We're seeing working people coming to the food bank who just can't make ends meet. And I think it's going to have a real impact there.”
Although Bailey said it will help address the issue, he noted the rebate isn’t a “magic bullet.”
“It's a really important step, but it's not the only step that we're going to need to make sure we're really combating food insecurity."
Those next steps should include a multi-level approach from all levels of government, said Denis Simard, executive director of the Al Ritchie Community Association (ARCA).
“[They] should be sitting down and talking about an actual national strategy that can be benefited at the most local level, if possible.”
Between ordering produce and products into the country, Simard said Canada has enough food to feed everyone, but pointed to food waste as the reason this isn’t happening.
“We do have an immense amount of food waste in this country.”
Simard feels governments need to buy into a food rescue program, similar to the ones several grocery stores across Canada offer.
As for food insecurity, Simard expects the need to increase despite the rebate.
“What people were paying this year and not being able to afford it now with inflation, those amounts are going up, and although there will be a tax break that will help offset some of that, it still does not offset the totality of what is being increased.”
Simard said ARCA is preparing to distribute 120,000 pounds of food in 2026 after serving just roughly 35,000 pounds three years ago.
