MPs unanimously approve Conservative motion to fast-track Liberal GST relief bill

Dana McCauley, CEO of Canadian Food Innovation Network, joins BNN Bloomberg to discuss how to tackle Canadian grocery inflation.

The boost to the federal GST credit Prime Minister Mark Carney promised Canadians last week is one step closer to being enacted.

On Monday, members of Parliament unanimously approved a Conservative motion proposing to speed up deliberations over Bill C-19, the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Act, that will see it clear the House of Commons by Wednesday.

That bill seeks to implement the Liberals’ latest affordability pledge — dubbed the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit — to increase the existing GST credit.

• Who gets the GST credit? What Canadians need to know about the new boost

Starting in July, the quarterly GST payments will see an increase of 25 per cent over the next five years, and will also include a one-time top-up of 50 per cent this year.

The all-party stamp of approval means that second reading will wrap up Monday, the House finance committee will complete an accelerated study – including testimony from the bill’s sponsor, Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne – by Tuesday.

Parliamentarians have also agreed to allow the legislation to come back to the House without amendment by Wednesday, and for it to be passed “on division” after a period of third reading debate that day, meaning it’ll be sent along to the Senate for a second round of scrutiny by mid-week.

The motion to speed up the vote was proposed by deputy Conservative leader Melissa Lantsman. And while leading the charge to see this measure fast-tracked, speaking to reporters on Monday, Lantsman made it clear the Conservatives do not think it will amount to any meaningful affordability relief.

“The top-up will equal about $10 when you go to the grocery store and you’re spending $300 a week to feed your families,” Lantsman said. “And, sure, you’d take $10, but it certainly doesn’t solve the actual problem.”

Lantsman added that the Official Opposition has plans later this week to present additional proposals aimed at bringing down food inflation, including through the recurrent call to scrap the industrial carbon price.

According to the federal government, a family of four will receive up to $1,890 this year with the increases, compared to $1,100 a year as the credit exists now. That same family would later see about $1,400 a year over the next four years.

A single person, meanwhile, would receive up to $950 this year compared to $540, and about $700 a year for the next four years.

The progress on the piece of legislation comes alongside new analysis from the Parliamentary Budget Office, which estimates the total cost for this new affordability-aimed initiative from the Liberals, could cost more than the government estimated.

According to a report published Monday by the parliamentary budget officer, the measure — which was not included in the November federal budget — will cost the government $12.4 billion over 2025-26 to 2030-31, compared to the $11.7 billion estimate federal officials offered last week.

Defending the new spending, Champagne told reporters on Monday that “when you’re in government you have to make choices.”“The choice we made is to support Canadians where they are. Like I said, this legislation is giving a boost for this year, but also a bridge towards the time where we grow the economy,” he said.

With files from CTV News’ Stephanie Ha