Sask. government says new grocery benefit will not affect income support and disability programs

After the Canadian government’s announcement of a 25 per cent hike to the GST credit, Saskatchewan’s government says lower-income residents will not lose out on benefits when the federal support rolls out.

The province’s Minister of Social Services Terry Jenson said Saskatchewan welcomes Ottawa’s announcement saying “every little bit of support helps.”

Read more:

• Sask. government act would deliver on affordability election promises
• Sask. NDP introduces rent control bill that government ‘not likely to support’
• Nearly half of Saskatchewan residents struggling financially: StatsCan

On Monday, Jenson said the provincial government will be exempting the groceries and essentials benefit for both Saskatchewan income support and Saskatchewan assured income for disability programs.

“This is good news for those individuals who do receive a GST tax credit to be able to put that towards food or other essentials that they deem necessary,” Jenson said.

The Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit will last five years and start in July. In addition, eligible residents will also receive a one time payment worth 50 per cent of the credit this year.

According to the federal government, a single person could receive up to $950 this year and around $700 in the next four years, while a family of four could expect up to up to $1,890 this year and $1,400 in the next four years.

While Jenson said Saskatchewan has always exempted GST credits for residents receiving income support, the one-time benefit will also be exempted as it is not tied to the GST credit directly.

When asked about support for the residents who don’t receive the GST credit, Jenson pointed to the Saskatchewan Affordability Act which passed in December 2024, noting the most recent budget included several affordability measures under the legislation.

The Act includes reducing provincial income tax, doubling the Active Families Benefit, and increasing the Disability Tax Credit.

Last fall, the Saskatchewan NDP introduced The Rent Control Act (Bill 608), that would link maximum rent increases to the Consumer Price Index in an effort to stop corporate landlords from increasing rent by unreasonable amounts.

When questioned about rent control and its role in affordable housing Jenson said “it has been tried and it’s failed.”

He pointed to provinces such as British Columbia and Manitoba that have implemented it, stating “they have some of the highest rents in the country.”

“If rent control is adopted it restricts a number of new properties that are being built,” he said.

“It also discourages landlords from making repairs and investing in their properties if the rent has been capped.”

Jenson said the province would not support rent control and instead encourage the growth of future rental properties.

“If you have more rental properties available on the market, the rents will stay stable,” he said.

“The best way to address rent affordability is to make sure that we have additional capacity in the market.”

— with files from The Canadian Press

Read more:

• Sask. government act would deliver on affordability election promises
• Sask. NDP introduces rent control bill that government ‘not likely to support’
• Nearly half of Saskatchewan residents struggling financially: StatsCan