Issue
Cost of Living
Federal grocery, housing, tax, and benefit policy as it affects after-tax household income. The Trudeau government's 2022-2024 affordability package included one-time GST credit doublings (C-30 in 2022, C-47 in 2023's Grocery Rebate of $234 to $467 per household), the temporary two-month GST/HST holiday from December 14, 2024 to February 15, 2025 (C-78), and the Canada Workers Benefit automatic-enrolment expansion. The Carney government's 2025 Bill C-4 cut the bottom income-tax bracket from 15% to 14% and removed GST on new owner-occupied homes up to $1 million for first-time buyers. Active 2025 debates: housing supply, interprovincial trade barrier removal (Bill C-5), the federal cash-access framework (private member's bills C-400 / 45-1 C-276), and grocery-price transparency (C-406).
Where parties stand
Compare side-by-side- Bloc QuébécoisBLOC
The Bloc Québécois has called for increased federal Old Age Security for seniors aged 65 to 74 to match the 10-percent boost that 75-plus recipients received in 2022 (Bill C-12 of 44-1, S.C. 2022, c. 5), elimination of the federal carbon-pricing backstop for Quebec (which Quebec is already exempt from due to its cap-and-trade system meeting the federal benchmark), full Quebec administration of the GST/HST on Quebec consumer transactions (Quebec already administers the HST equivalent QST), federal support for Quebec-specific cost-of-living measures, and a windfall-profit tax on grocery chains earning over $1 billion in net income flowing as transfer to provincial cost-of-living programs.
Source The BC Conservatives under John Rustad campaigned in 2024 on eliminating BC's consumer carbon tax (saving an estimated $1,800 per family per year before the rebates), reducing the provincial gas tax by 15 cents per litre, capping ICBC auto-insurance rate increases at the rate of inflation, and ending the BC Employer Health Tax for businesses with fewer than 50 employees. They opposed the BC NDP's tax cuts targeted at low-income households as insufficient.
Source- Conservative Party of CanadaCONSERVATIVE
The federal Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre frames the cost-of-living crisis as caused by the Liberal-NDP government's spending, the carbon tax, and the immigration intake outstripping housing supply. Calls for axing the carbon tax (the Trudeau government eliminated the consumer fuel charge in 2025 ahead of the planned April 1, 2025 increase), capping federal program spending growth at the rate of inflation plus population growth, expanding the GST/HST New Housing Rebate threshold (currently $450,000 since 1991 unindexed), and the Conservatives' For You Tax Cuts framework for low- and middle-income earners.
Source The federal Green Party platform calls for a national Guaranteed Livable Income (a form of universal basic income) at $20,000 per adult per year, immediate elimination of approximately $14 billion in federal direct and indirect fossil-fuel subsidies (per the IISD 2024 tracking), federal rent control on rental units owned by REITs and large institutional landlords, and a windfall-profit tax on banks, grocers, and oil producers reporting over $1 billion in profit. Supports increasing the Canada Disability Benefit to $2,400 per year and indexing it to inflation.
Source- Liberal Party of CanadaLIBERAL
The federal Liberal Party under Mark Carney delivered the doubling of the GST credit for six months under Bill C-30 of 44-1 (S.C. 2022, c. 17, royal assent October 18, 2022), expanded the Canada Workers Benefit refundable tax credit, launched the Canada Dental Care Plan (in force May 2024 covering 70 percent of insurance-claim costs for eligible adults under 65 and children under 18), eliminated the consumer fuel charge of federal carbon-pricing in 2025 (the previous $80-per-tonne planned increase for April 1, 2025 was rescinded), and committed to the $10-a-day Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care funding renewal beyond 2026 expiry. Maintained the Underused Housing Tax on non-citizen residential real estate.
Source The Manitoba NDP under Premier Wab Kinew (since October 18, 2023) suspended Manitoba's 14 cents per litre provincial fuel tax for six months from January through June 2024, froze Manitoba Hydro residential rates for one year, eliminated the small-business payroll tax for businesses with fewer than $2.5 million in payroll, and committed to expanded school-nutrition programs in every Manitoba public school. The 2024 budget extended the fuel-tax pause through to December 2024 before reinstating at a reduced rate.
Source- New Brunswick Liberal AssociationNB LIBERAL
The New Brunswick Liberals under Premier Susan Holt (elected October 21, 2024) committed during the 2024 campaign to an expanded provincial HST rebate for low-income households, continuation of the federal-provincial $10-a-day child-care bilateral past 2026, freezing NB Power residential electricity-rate increases at the rate of inflation, and a five-year extension of the gas-tax cap protecting drivers from price spikes.
Source The federal NDP under Jagmeet Singh secured the temporary doubling of the GST credit for six months under Bill C-30 of 44-1 (S.C. 2022, c. 17, royal assent October 18, 2022), pushed for the Grocery Code of Conduct that the federal government released in voluntary form in 2023, and made permanent GST removal from essential goods (groceries, home heating, internet) a leadership-campaign commitment in 2025. Supports federal rent caps, a windfall-profit tax on grocery chains earning over $1 billion in net income, and expanded refundable Canada Disability Benefit beyond the current $200 per month.
SourceThe Doug Ford Ontario PC government has extended the temporary 5.7 cents per litre cut to the provincial gas tax (originally July 2022) through to June 2026, eliminated provincial vehicle-licence-plate-sticker fees with a refund of fees paid 2020 to 2022, sent $200 affordability rebate cheques to every Ontario adult in early 2025 (announced November 2024), and committed to no income-tax increases during the 2026 election cycle.
Source- Saskatchewan PartySK PARTY
The Saskatchewan Party government under Premier Scott Moe issued one-time affordability cheques of $500 per adult Saskatchewan resident in 2022 ($450-million total programme cost), suspended the four-cent-per-litre provincial gas tax for July 2024 through June 2025, eliminated the provincial small-business tax for businesses earning under $500,000 (made permanent in the 2024 budget), and indexed Saskatchewan's basic personal amount to inflation (a $200 personal-tax-credit increase per Saskatchewan adult under the 2024 budget). Opposes the federal carbon tax and has secured the heating oil exemption that benefits roughly 12 percent of Saskatchewan households.
Source
Bills affecting this issue
- C-276Federal45-1First reading
An Act to establish a framework for the continued access to and use of cash in Canada and to make related amendments to other Acts
Requires banks and federally regulated businesses to continue accepting and dispensing cash. Targets the post-pandemic decline of cash acceptance.
- Bill 41Provincial31st Legislature of AlbertaThird reading
Affordability Action Plan Implementation Act
Re-indexes Alberta social benefits (AISH, Income Support, Seniors Benefit) to inflation. Reverses the 2019 UCP de-indexation.
- C-226Federal45-1In committee
An Act to establish a national framework to improve food price transparency
National framework on food price transparency.
- Bill 37Provincial43rd Legislature of ManitobaSecond reading
The Affordable Utility Rates Act
Affordable Utility Rates Act. Lowers and stabilizes Manitoba Hydro and Centra Gas rates for residential and small-business customers.
- Bill 17Provincial61st Legislature of New BrunswickIn committee
An Act to Establish a Public Auto Insurance Study
Establishes a provincial commission to study whether NB should move to a public auto-insurance model.
- Bill 137Provincial30th Legislature of SaskatchewanRoyal assent
The Saskatchewan Affordability Act
Saskatchewan Affordability Act: one-time rebate cheque to all residents, Education Property Tax reduction, refundable training credit.
- Bill 50Provincial61st Legislature of New BrunswickRoyal assent
New Brunswick Pharmacare Implementation Act
Implementation legislation for federal pharmacare in New Brunswick (first Atlantic province to sign).
- C-4Federal45-1Royal assent
An Act respecting certain affordability measures for Canadians and another measure
Carney government's first affordability package: removal of the federal consumer carbon price plus targeted cost-of-living measures.
- C-262Federal45-1First reading
An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act
Repeals the Canada Post statutory letter-mail monopoly and lays a path to commercial competition. Affordability and access debate is the public-facing frame.
- C-261Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (amount of full pension)
Old Age Security pension amount amendments.
- C-222Federal45-1In committee
An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and the Canada Labour Code (death of a child)
EI + Canada Labour Code amendments for parents on death of a child.
- S-206Federal45-1In committee
An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income
National framework for a guaranteed livable basic income (Senate).
- C-253Federal45-1First reading
An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income
Guaranteed Livable Basic Income framework Commons version.
- C-207Federal45-1First reading
An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan
Canada Pension Plan amendments.
- S-203Federal45-1Second reading
An Act to prohibit the promotion of alcoholic beverages
Restricts advertising and promotion of alcoholic beverages.
- C-78Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act respecting temporary cost of living relief (affordability)
Two-month GST/HST holiday on a defined list of goods plus a $250 cheque to working Canadians earning under $150,000. Holiday cheque was dropped in committee.
- S-290Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to prohibit the promotion of alcoholic beverages
Restricts advertising and promotion of alcoholic beverages, modelled on tobacco-advertising rules.
- C-64Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act respecting pharmacare
Out-of-pocket savings on contraception and diabetes meds for covered patients.
- C-406Federal44-1First reading
An Act to establish a national framework to improve food price transparency
Food price transparency national framework.
- C-400Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to establish a framework for the continued access to and use of cash in Canada and to make related amendments to other Acts
Requires banks and federally regulated businesses to keep accepting and dispensing cash.
- C-401Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (northern residents deduction)
Expands the federal Northern Residents Deduction. Cost-of-living adjustment for residents of designated northern zones.
- C-397Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Department of Employment and Social Development Act
Excise Tax Act + ESDC Act targeted amendments.
- C-396Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (carbon pollution pricing)
Exempts the federal fuel charge (carbon price) from GST/HST. The 'tax on a tax' Conservative talking point.
- C-387Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan
PMB amending Canada Pension Plan benefit-calculation rules.
- C-365Federal44-1In committee
An Act respecting the implementation of a consumer-led banking system for Canadians
Consumer-led 'open banking' framework. Lets customers grant apps secure read-only access to their bank data.
- C-35Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada
Codifies federal funding obligations for $10-a-day-style child care so a future government cannot quietly cancel the program.
- C-352Federal44-1In committee
An Act to amend the Competition Act and the Competition Tribunal Act
Competition Act reform: lower abuse-of-dominance threshold, stronger Bureau tools, higher penalties.
- C-56Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act
Repeals the Competition Act 'efficiencies defence' to enable tougher merger reviews, especially in grocery retail.
- C-56-44Federal44-1Royal assent
Affordable Housing and Groceries Act (44-1)
Affordable Housing and Groceries Act (44-1 alt).
- C-322Federal44-1Third reading
An Act to develop a national framework to establish a school food program
Requires Ottawa to develop a national framework for a school food program. Companion to the government's bilateral school-food agreements signed in 2024-2025.
- C-319Federal44-1Third reading
An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (amount of full pension)
Increases the OAS pension for seniors 65 to 74 by 10 percent, matching the increase given to seniors 75 plus in 2022.
- C-22Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to reduce poverty and to support the financial security of persons with disabilities by establishing the Canada disability benefit and making a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act
Canada Disability Benefit framework. Actual benefit amount ($200/month max) set in 2024 regulations.
- S-233Federal44-1In committee
An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income
Senate version of the guaranteed livable basic income framework.
- C-327Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act (air passenger protection)
Strengthens air passenger protection (compensation, refund timelines).
- C-32Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to implement certain provisions of the fall economic statement tabled in Parliament on November 3, 2022 and certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 7, 2022
Doubles the GST credit for six months and implements 2 percent share buyback tax. Fall 2022 affordability measures.
- C-37Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Department of Employment and Social Development Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts (Employment Insurance Board of Appeal)
Government housekeeping bill updating the Department of Employment and Social Development Act.
- C-31Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing
Original Dental Benefit Act for children under 12 and the one-time Canada Housing Benefit top-up for low-income renters.
- C-30Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (temporary enhancement to the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax credit)
One-time doubling of the GST credit, paid in November 2022, during the inflation spike.
- S-240Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (definition of income)
OAS Act definition of income for GIS clawback.
- C-12Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (Guaranteed Income Supplement)
Top-up to the Guaranteed Income Supplement for the lowest-income seniors during the 2022 inflation shock.
- S-239Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate)
Senate criminal-interest-rate cap.
- C-231Federal44-1First reading
An Act to amend the Competition Act (vehicle repair)
Federal right-to-repair for motor vehicles. Requires automakers to share diagnostic and repair info with independent shops.
- C-2Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19
Further COVID-19 support measures.
- C-223Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income
Commons companion to S-233. Requires Ottawa to develop a national framework for guaranteed livable basic income.
- C-213Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal interest rate)
Lowers the criminal interest rate cap.