OTTAWA, Nov. 21 -- The Canadian federal government announce Thursday that it will be introducing legislation in Parliament that would provide for a two-month tax break for groceries and holiday essentials.

Finance Ministry said in a news release that the government is proposing that the Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) be fully and temporarily relieved on holiday essentials, like groceries, restaurant meals, drinks, snacks, children's clothing, and gifts, from Dec. 14, to Feb. 15, 2025.

"The government can't set prices at the checkout, but we can give Canadians more money in their pockets," the release said, adding that this tax break will make a meaningful difference for Canadians by making essentially all food GST/HST free.

Removing the GST from these qualifying goods for two months will provide about 1.6 billion Canadian dollars (1.15 billion U.S. dollars) in federal tax relief, the release said.

The GST/HST would also be fully and temporarily relieved on an importation of these same qualifying goods if the goods are imported during the same period, the release added.

  - Xinhua