Manitobans welcome GST rebate boost but many will not benefit.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced GST rebate payments will rise by 25% over five years with a one-time 50% increase in June, and the federal government says the change will affect about 12 million Canadians.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a planned increase to the GST rebate that the government says is meant to address inflation. Payments will grow by 25 per cent over five years, with a one-time 50 per cent boost scheduled for June. The federal government estimates about 12 million Canadians will be affected. The announcement drew welcome from seniors groups and from organizations that help people access food, while some taxpayer advocates criticised the approach. Key details: - The rebate payments are to increase by 25 per cent over five years, with a one-time 50 per cent increase in June. - The federal government estimates the changes will affect about 12 million Canadians. - Under the new amounts, a family of four that currently receives about $1,100 a year could receive up to $1,890 this year and about $1,400 a year for the next four years. - Harvest Manitoba president Vince Barletta said the people who are eligible are among those most in need, noting broad use of food banks across demographics, including families with children, people with jobs, seniors and people with disabilities. - The Canadian Taxpayers Association criticised the move, arguing it does not create long-term solutions to food insecurity and advocating tax cuts instead. - Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew expressed support for the GST boost as a step to help people afford food. Summary: The policy is presented by the government as a short-term measure to ease inflationary pressure for eligible households while critics say it does not address longer-term causes of food insecurity. Undetermined at this time.