Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a series of measures Friday aimed at lowering costs for Canadians, framing them as central elements of the upcoming federal budget. Speaking in Ottawa, Carney said the government would focus on controlling spending in government operations and redirecting funds toward programs designed to ease financial pressures and expand opportunities.One of the most significant changes will see the Canada Revenue Agency begin automatically filing tax returns for low-income Canadians starting with the 2026 tax year..By 2028, this system is expected to cover as many as 5.5 million people, ensuring they receive benefits such as the GST/HST credit, the Canada Child Benefit, and the Canada Disability Benefit.The government also announced that the National School Food Program will receive permanent funding. The program, which provides meals for up to 400,000 children, has been estimated to save families with two children about $800 a year on groceries.Carney said Ottawa will work with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to expand the program into more schools..In addition, the Canada Strong Pass will be renewed for the 2025 holiday season and summer 2026, offering free or discounted access to museums, historic sites, and parks.It will also provide a 25% discount on VIA Rail tickets for young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. The pass was credited last year with boosting museum visits by 15% and generating more than 50,000 discounted rail bookings.“These measures are about making life more affordable and giving Canadians a fair chance to get ahead,” Carney said. “We cannot control what other nations do, but we can control what we choose to build — and we are building Canada strong.”.Carney argued the moves build on earlier measures, including cancelling the federal carbon tax on consumers, cutting taxes for middle-income earners, and eliminating GST for first-time homebuyers.Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, who will table Budget 2025 on November 4, said the plan reflects the government’s goal of reducing waste while increasing long-term investments.“Canadians asked for real change, and this budget will deliver it,” Champagne said. “By spending less on government operations, we can invest more in families, growth, and a stronger future for the country.”.The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of ignoring public feedback after the government announced plans to expand automatic tax filing only hours after a consultation on the issue closed. The consultation, which invited Canadians to provide input through an online questionnaire, ended on Oct. 9. The next morning, Carney revealed the measure as part of his government’s affordability push.“There’s no way government bureaucrats pulled an all-nighter reading through thousands of submissions and survey responses before sending Carney out to make an announcement on automatic tax filing the next morning,” said Franco Terrazzano, the CTF’s federal director. “Asking Canadians for their opinion and then ignoring them isn’t a good look for Carney, it makes it look like the government is holding sham consultations.”The CTF also raised concerns about the capacity and role of the Canada Revenue Agency, which has grown to 52,499 employees — a 33 per cent increase since 2016. Terrazzano argued the agency struggles with basic services, pointing to past audits showing it answered only 36 per cent of calls and often provided inaccurate information. “The CRA is a bloated mess, and Carney should be cutting the cost of bureaucracy not scheming up ways to give the bureaucracy more power over taxpayers,” he said.According to the CTF, allowing the CRA to both collect and file taxes creates a conflict of interest. “Trusting the taxman to do your tax return is like trusting your dog to protect your burger,” Terrazzano said. “Carney should stop the CRA power grab and instead cut taxes and simplify the tax code.”.Other ministers framed the announcements as part of a broader effort to make daily life more affordable. Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu said the measures would give people “more room to breathe,” while Canadian Identity and Culture Minister Steven Guilbeault emphasized the benefits for children, families, and students.The permanent funding for the National School Food Program is set at $216.6 million annually beginning in 2029–30. Agreements with all provinces and territories are already in place, with some jurisdictions beginning to use federal money to support students during the current school year.The government’s announcements come amid heightened attention on affordability and housing pressures, with Carney promising to keep the focus on lowering costs and expanding access to federal benefits.
