Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau plans to temporarily lift the federal sales tax off a slew of items and send checks to millions of Canadians who are dealing with rising costs as a federal election looms.

Summary

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced measures to address the rising cost of living, including a temporary suspension of the federal sales tax (GST) on select goods from Dec. 14 to Feb. 15 and one-time checks of C$250 for 18.7 million Canadians earning up to C$150,000 in 2023.

The tax break covers items like children’s clothing, toys, restaurant meals, and beverages.

Critics view the move as a desperate political strategy ahead of a looming federal election, with Trudeau’s Liberals trailing Conservatives 39% to 26% in recent polls.