---
title: "Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Act receives Royal Assent"
id: "2026-02-12-canada-groceries-and-essentials-benefit-act"
official_date: "2026-02-12"
effective_date: null
url: "https://signal.amicably.ca/2026-02-12-canada-groceries-and-essentials-benefit-act"
---

> Amicably Signal: what has changed in Canadian family law and tax that bears on Amicably.

# Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Act receives Royal Assent

- Official date: 2026-02-12
- Jurisdiction: Canada
- Kind: Legislation (Royal Assent)
- Affects: Benefits and credits
- Source: Parliament of Canada, on Justice Laws, https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/AnnualStatutes/2026_1/FullText.html
- Statute: S.C. 2026, c. 1
- Bill: Bill C-19

The Act (S.C. 2026, c. 1) amends the Income Tax Act. It raises the maximum annual GST/HST credit amounts by 50% for the 2025-2026 benefit year and by 25% for five years starting with the 2026-2027 benefit year.

In Amicably now: Amicably's 2026 figures use the Act's credit amounts for the benefit year that starts in July 2026.