What You Might Have Missed in Canada This Summer

Summer is often when important updates quietly pass by. While Canadians were travelling, working through heat waves, and trying to enjoy a few days off, benefit amounts changed, new laws came into force, class action claims opened, and several useful offers appeared and disappeared.

Here are the Canadian updates worth checking before September arrives.

A new Canada Child Benefit year began in July

The Canada Child Benefit was recalculated in July for the new payment period running from July 2026 to June 2027.

Eligible families with lower adjusted family net income can receive up to:

• $8,157 per year, or $679.75 per month, for each child under six
• $6,883 per year, or $573.58 per month, for each child aged six to 17

The maximum applies when adjusted family net income is below $38,237. Payments gradually decrease above that amount and depend on family income and the number of children.

The calculation is based on your 2025 tax information. If you have children and your payment changed this summer, check your CRA account to confirm that your family information and direct deposit details are correct. If you did not file your taxes, benefit payments can be delayed or stopped.

The Canada Child Benefit is also one of the reasons it is worth checking your eligibility after a change in custody, marital status, address, or family income.

Check the latest Canada Child Benefit amounts

The GST/HST credit has a new name

The federal GST/HST credit is now called the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.

For the 2025 base year, payments are being issued quarterly in July 2026, October 2026, January 2027, and April 2027. The next scheduled payment is October 5, 2026.

The amount depends on adjusted family net income, marital status, and the number of children. It is not a universal payment, so the amount varies widely between households.

If you were eligible for the former GST/HST credit, there is usually no separate application. Your eligibility is assessed through your tax return. Filing your taxes remains important even if you had little or no income.

A major privacy class action opened for claims

A federal class action involving unauthorized access to personal information through Government of Canada online accounts opened its claims period on August 4.

The case concerns alleged privacy breaches involving accounts such as:

• CRA accounts
• My Service Canada accounts
• Other Government of Canada accounts accessed through GCKey

Some class members may have received a notice by email or mail from the claims administrator. The official settlement page can also be used to check eligibility.

The deadline to submit a claim is February 3, 2027. The settlement administrator warns that late claims may not qualify for compensation.

This is a useful reminder to keep old notices, check your government accounts, and avoid entering personal information through links received in unexpected messages. Start from the official Canada.ca page or the settlement administrator’s website.

Read the official Government of Canada privacy class action notice

Some class action deadlines have already passed

Not every settlement promoted online is still open.

The Canadian 23andMe privacy settlement closed its claims period on June 25, 2026. The Canadian LastPass settlement closed on June 23. If you did not submit a claim before those deadlines, you should not assume that a new social media post means the claim period has reopened.

Class actions can have separate deadlines for filing a claim, opting out, objecting, or updating information. The deadline shown in a video or article may also relate to another country.

Before submitting personal information, check:

1. whether the settlement is Canadian;
2. whether claims are still open;
3. whether you meet the eligibility conditions;
4. who is administering the settlement; and
5. whether the website matches the official notice.

New federal criminal law reforms came into force

Several federal justice reforms became law this summer.

Most provisions of the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act came into force on July 15. Changes connected to the Protecting Victims Act and the Combatting Hate Act came into force on July 18.

The reforms affect bail, sentencing, victims’ rights, and hate-related offences. Their implementation also depends on provincial and territorial justice systems, including courts, prosecutors, police services, correctional facilities, and victim services.

For most Canadians, this does not create a form to complete or a benefit to claim. It is still relevant because changes to federal criminal law can affect how cases are handled across the country.

See the Department of Justice summary of the reforms

A new foreign influence registry is now active

The Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act and its regulations came into force on August 4.

The registry applies to certain arrangements involving foreign principals. If an arrangement existed before August 4, 2026, the registration deadline is October 3, 2026. New arrangements may need to be registered within 14 days.

This is primarily relevant to people and organizations involved in political, public policy, lobbying, or influence-related activities. It is not a general registration requirement for Canadians who happen to have family, business, or personal connections abroad.

The penalties can be significant, so anyone who believes the rules may apply to them should consult the official registry guidance.

Check the Foreign Influence Transparency Commissioner’s information

Canada’s tariff dispute will affect some fall purchases

The federal government announced new counter-tariffs on certain products originating in the United States. The measures are scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on September 8, 2026.

The listed categories include some dairy products, appliances, agricultural equipment, electronics, steel, pulp, and paper. The tariffs apply to qualifying goods originating in the United States, not automatically to every product sold by an American company.

That distinction matters. A product can be sold by a U.S. retailer but manufactured elsewhere, or sold by a Canadian retailer while being imported from the United States.

The practical takeaway is to check the country of origin before making a major purchase this fall, especially for appliances, electronics, and equipment. Supporting Canadian-made products can also reduce exposure to some cross-border price changes, although the label should be verified rather than assumed.

Read the official list of products subject to counter-tariffs

A few travel offers are still available

Several summer travel promotions have already expired, but some fall and winter offers remain active.

Air Canada is currently advertising up to five times the usual Aeroplan points on eligible cash bookings for travel in November. The booking deadline is September 3, 2026. Other targeted promotions include bonus points on selected international routes and flights between Montréal and Vancouver.

These offers can be useful when you already have a trip planned, especially if the booking would otherwise be made soon. The fare, cabin, route, travel dates, and whether Basic Economy is excluded can change the value considerably.

The summer lesson is simple: airline offers often disappear before the travel date. If you are planning a fall or winter trip, checking the booking deadline may be more useful than waiting for a larger sale that may never appear.

View Air Canada’s current offers

Credit card and banking offers changed throughout the summer

Welcome bonuses, referral promotions, first-year annual fee waivers, and cash back campaigns changed repeatedly during the summer.

Some offers were strongest for new customers opening an account, while others rewarded existing customers for moving deposits, setting up payroll, or meeting a spending requirement. Credit card promotions also varied by province, income requirement, annual fee, and the time allowed to reach the spending target.

Before applying for anything this fall, check the full offer conditions:

• the minimum spending requirement;
• the deadline to reach it;
• the annual fee after the first year;
• whether you are considered a new customer;
• whether the offer is available in your province; and
• whether applying affects your credit report.

The headline reward is only one part of the calculation. A smaller bonus with a realistic spending requirement can be worth more than a larger offer that encourages purchases you would not otherwise make.

Explore Canooq’s welcome bonus guides and credit card comparisons before choosing an offer.

Several benefit payments arrived while people were away

Summer benefit payments were easy to miss if you were travelling or receiving mail at a different address.

The Canada Child Benefit was paid on July 20 and August 20. The Canada Disability Benefit was scheduled for July 16 and August 20. CPP and OAS payments arrived on July 29 and August 27.

Ontario residents may also have received the Ontario Trillium Benefit on July 10 and August 10. Alberta’s Child and Family Benefit was scheduled for August 27.

The dates differ by program and province. If a payment is missing, check your CRA or Service Canada account first, then verify your address, tax filing status, family information, and direct deposit details.

Canooq’s Canada money calendar brings many of these payment dates, deadlines, holidays, and government reminders together in one place.

Your September reset checklist

Before summer fully disappears, it is worth taking a few minutes to:

• check CRA and Service Canada accounts;
• confirm upcoming benefit payment dates;
• review open class action deadlines;
• cancel or renegotiate unused subscriptions;
• review credit card annual fee dates;
• check mobile and internet plans before promotional pricing ends;
• look for fall travel offers;
• verify important immigration or document deadlines; and
• review your budget before holiday and winter spending begins.

A missed deadline is often more expensive than a missed sale. The best time to check these items is before an email, payment, or claim window disappears from view.

Sources and further reading

• Canada Revenue Agency benefit payment calendar
• Canada Child Benefit amounts for 2026–2027
• Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit payment schedule
• Government of Canada privacy class action
• Federal criminal law reforms
• Foreign influence registry
• Canada’s September 2026 counter-tariffs

Last updated August 29, 2026. Benefit amounts, offers, deadlines, and government rules can change. Check the linked official source before acting.