Providing more help with groceries and everyday essentials

$4.67B net impact on the budgetary balance over five years, 2026-27 to 2030-31.

The cost line

… no change to existing funding or no fiscal implication · – a further extension will be considered later · 0* less than $0.5 million. Positive numbers cost the budget (spending or forgone revenue); negative numbers improve it.

What the budget says

“To provide more help with the cost of groceries and other essentials: Budget 2026 proposes to enhance this benefit again through the 2027 Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit Supplement, which would provide a one-time 50% increase for the 2026-27 benefit year, delivered in early 2027.”

Budget 2026, p. 189 (PDF p. 203)

“Budget 2026 proposes to provide $610.3 million over four years, starting in 2027-28, $118.1 million in 2031-32, and $117 million ongoing to ensure that Nutrition North Canada can maintain and enhance these essential supports.”

Budget 2026, p. 190 (PDF p. 204)

Amounts named in the text

Stated amounts can cover different periods, cash or accrual bases, previously announced money and loans. They are not additive with the cost line above.

• $4.1 billion
• $610.3 million over four years, starting in 2027-28
• $118.1 million
• $117 million

Also in this section

• Strengthening support for workers earning low wages$2.06BTax measureHouseholds
• Phasing out of advance payments−$3.08BSavings or revenue
• Making the Canada Caregiver Credit refundable$845MTax measureHouseholds
• Lowering costs for Canadians at the pump$2.87BTax measureHouseholds
• $2 billion investment, retrofitting 1 million homes to save Canadians $1 billion per year$1.34BProgram spendingHouseholdsHousingTrades
• Securing the future of a Canada-wide early learning and child care system$5.42BProgram spendingHouseholds
• Realignment of existing funding$0MProgram spending