November 21: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has rolled out new measures to help Canadians tackle rising costs during the holiday season. Among the initiatives is a two-month GST holiday, starting December 14, 2024, and ending February 15, 2025, covering specific items to make holiday spending more affordable.
Canadians will be able to buy a range of goods tax-free, including prepared meals, snacks, children’s clothing and toys, books, and even Christmas trees. Alcoholic beverages under 7% ABV, like beer and cider, are also included. The government estimates that a family spending $2,000 on eligible goods could save about $100.
In provinces with the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), such as Ontario and Nova Scotia, the savings are expected to be even higher. For instance, Ontarians could see savings of up to $260 on the same $2,000 worth of purchases.
Additionally, the government will send out $250 relief cheques, dubbed the “Working Canadians Rebate,” to nearly 18.7 million Canadians who earned $150,000 or less in 2023. These payments are set to arrive in early spring 2025.
These affordability measures come as the government faces challenges, including rising inflation and lagging support in public opinion polls. Trudeau’s Liberals are trailing the Conservatives by around 17 percentage points, according to recent data.
The initiatives aim to ease cost-of-living pressures for Canadians while also boosting the government’s standing during tough economic times.
