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Cost of Living

Prices, budgeting, and financial aid to help manage everyday life in Quebec.

Vieauqc TeamSeptember 6, 2026

Latest

Shelter Allowance: the new period opens October 1, up to $170 a month

A Revenu Québec benefit for households whose housing eats at least 30% of their income. Nobody sends it to you automatically — you have to apply.

A new period starts October 1. Revenu Québec's Shelter Allowance program runs in one-year cycles that do not follow the calendar year: the next period covers October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, according to Revenu Québec. It is a monthly payment, and it can reach $170 a month. The amount depends on how heavily housing weighs on your budget. There is no single amount: what you receive varies with the share of your income that goes to rent, your household composition and your income. The maximum is $170 a month; the exact tiers and the income ceilings for this period are published on the program's eligibility page, which also offers a short questionnaire to check your situation. Who can qualify. The conditions apply together: you live in Québec; you rent an eligible dwelling, own the home you live in, or live with someone you pay rent to; you have at least one dependent child, or you are 50 or older as of September 30, 2027; you spent at least 30% of your 2025 family income on housing; and as of December 31, 2025 you did not hold more than $50,000 in bank accounts, TFSAs and investments. FHSAs and registered plans such as RRSPs do not count toward that limit. You must have filed your income tax return. If you were living in Québec on December 31, 2025, you and your spouse must have filed a Québec income tax return for 2025. That return is how Revenu Québec knows your…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

Employment Insurance: temporary measures to get paid faster, until October 10, 2026

Employment Insurance: temporary measures to get paid faster, until October 10, 2026

Lost your job? Three temporary measures make Employment Insurance easier to get: no waiting week, severance no longer delays benefits, and extra weeks for some.

Temporary measures to get Employment Insurance faster. In response to major economic changes, the federal government has put in place temporary measures that make Employment Insurance (EI) easier to access, according to the Government of Canada. They apply until October 10, 2026. If you lose your job, they can make a real difference. No more waiting week. Normally there is a first unpaid week before benefits begin, a bit like an insurance deductible. This waiting period is waived for all new EI claims that start between March 30, 2025, and October 10, 2026. The result: you get paid sooner. Your severance no longer delays your benefits. Usually, money received when you leave a job — vacation pay, severance pay, pay in lieu of notice — is allocated and delays your benefit payments. Under the temporary measure, if your claim starts in the same period, these amounts are not deducted from your benefits. Up to 20 more weeks for some. Long-tenured workers may receive 20 additional weeks of regular benefits, up to a maximum of 65 weeks, under certain conditions (a claim that starts between June 15, 2025, and October 10, 2026, having already received at least one week of regular benefits, and meeting the long-tenured worker definition). If you qualify, the weeks are added automatically. Good to know for newcomers. Apply for EI as soon as you stop working — that is what decides…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

Federal tax cut: the first bracket drops to 14%, up to $420 less per person

Federal tax cut: the first bracket drops to 14%, up to $420 less per person

Since 2026, the federal tax rate on the first income bracket is 14% instead of 15%. Automatic: up to $420 per person, $840 per two-income couple.

The first federal bracket rate has dropped. The federal government lowered the tax rate on the first bracket of personal income from 15% to 14%. The cut took effect on July 1, 2025 — giving a blended rate of 14.5% for 2025 — and then applies in full for 2026, according to the Department of Finance Canada. In 2026, this first bracket covers taxable income up to $58,523. Who benefits. About 22 million Canadians gain something, and the relief goes mostly to people in the two lowest tax brackets. Because the reduced rate applies to the first bracket, everyone who pays federal tax benefits on that portion of their income — not only lower earners. How much it amounts to. The maximum saving is about $420 per person and $840 per two-income couple in 2026, according to the Department of Finance. It is not a separate payment: it is simply less tax. You don't have to apply. The cut is automatic. It shows up in the tax withheld from your paycheque and in the calculation of your federal income tax return. No form, no sign-up. This is federal tax, separate from Quebec tax. Don't mix them up: this measure is federal and affects the federal portion of your tax. In Quebec, you also pay a provincial tax, calculated separately by Revenu Québec with its own rates. The federal cut is on top of what Quebec does on its side; it does not replace it. Good to know for newcomers. You don't need to…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

FHSA: save tax-free for a first home (newcomers too)

FHSA: save tax-free for a first home (newcomers too)

The FHSA combines an RRSP's and a TFSA's perks: up to $8,000 a year, tax-deductible, tax-free withdrawals for a first home. All you need is a SIN.

An account built for a first home. The FHSA — first home savings account (CELIAPP in French) — is a registered plan that helps you save your first down payment, according to the Canada Revenue Agency. Nearly a million Canadians have already opened one. The double tax advantage is where it gets interesting. The FHSA combines the two best features of the other plans: like an RRSP, your contributions are tax-deductible (they lower your taxable income for the year); and like a TFSA, money withdrawn to buy a qualifying first home — contributions and growth alike — comes out entirely tax-free. It is the only account that offers both at once. How much you can put in. You can contribute up to $8,000 per year, up to a lifetime maximum of $40,000. Unused room carries forward (up to $8,000 more the next year). Note one difference from the RRSP: the contribution deadline is December 31, not the end of February. Newcomers can open one. This is the point often missed: to open an FHSA you must be an individual resident of Canada for tax purposes, be 18 (or the age of majority) with a Social Insurance Number (SIN), and be a first-time home buyer — meaning you have not lived in a home you owned during the current year or the previous four years, per the CRA. A temporary resident who has a SIN and is a resident for tax purposes is therefore eligible. What if you never buy? Nothing is lost:…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

Work Premium: the refundable credit for low-income workers in Quebec

Work Premium: the refundable credit for low-income workers in Quebec

Modest income in Quebec? Two refundable credits can add to your tax refund: the Work Premium (Quebec) and the Canada Workers Benefit (federal).

Working for a low income can qualify you for a premium. In Quebec, a person who works but earns a modest income can receive not one but two refundable tax credits designed to reward work. "Refundable" means the money is paid to you even if you owe no tax. The Work Premium is the Quebec measure. It is a refundable tax credit from Revenu Québec for low- or modest-income workers. To qualify, you must be resident in Quebec on December 31, be 18 or older, report employment income, and have family income below the applicable threshold, according to Revenu Québec. You must also be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, protected person (refugee), or registered Indian — so temporary residents are not eligible — and not be a full-time student (unless you are a parent). How you get it. You do not have to file a separate application: the Work Premium is claimed on Schedule P of your Quebec income tax return, and the amount is calculated from your income. If you would rather not wait for your tax refund, you can request advance payments — part of the premium paid ahead, during the year, through My Account. There is also a federal premium. The Canada Workers Benefit (CWB) is the federal equivalent, also refundable, claimed on your federal return (line 45300), according to the Canada Revenue Agency. Advance payments exist too (the Advanced CWB). Careful: in Quebec, the CWB does not…

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Vieauqc TeamAugust 25, 2026

Cost of Living

QPP: contribution rates drop in 2026

Smaller deductions on your pay, same benefits — the new Quebec Pension Plan numbers.

Good news for Quebec employees: since January 1, 2026, the base contribution to the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) has dropped. The combined rate goes from 10.8% to 10.6%, meaning 5.30% for the employee and 5.30% for the employer (instead of 5.40% each in 2025). You contribute less, without any change to benefits. Read the numbers carefully, though: the base rate drops, but the supplement contributed since 2019 stays in place — and that is what increases your future pension. On a $60,000 salary, your annual QPP deduction goes from about $3,616 (old rate: 5.40% + 1.00%) to about $3,560 in 2026 (5.30% + 1.00%) — roughly $56 less per year. The maximum pensionable earnings (MPE) rise to $74,600 in 2026, and the additional maximum (YAMPE) to $85,000. On the pension side, the 2026 maximums were also indexed: $1,507.65 per month at 65, $964.90 at 60, and $2,394.15 if you wait until 72. Reminder: these maximums apply to complete, well-paid careers — your own pension depends on your earnings. To know where you stand, check your statement of participation in your Retraite Québec account, and simulate different start ages with the free SimulR tool.

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

Winter electricity bill: free help and equalized payments

Winter electricity bill: free help and equalized payments

Quebec offers modest-income households free energy-efficiency work, but the 2026-2027 spots are taken. Until then, Hydro-Québec's equalized payments plan.

In winter, the bill climbs. In Quebec, heating is mostly electric, and the Hydro-Québec bill peaks in winter. Two things are worth knowing: free programs for modest-income households, and a tool anyone can turn on right now to avoid nasty surprises. There are free programs for modest incomes. The Éconologis program offers modest-income households — owners and tenants alike — a free visit from an energy-efficiency advisor and light work (weatherstripping, draft-proofing). Since 2026, a Hydro-Québec component adds a free heat pump for 20,000 modest-income households, at no cost, turnkey. Eligibility depends on household income, by household size. But for 2026-2027, the spots are already all taken. This is the key point not to miss: at the time of writing, Éconologis registration for the 2026-2027 season is closed, and the free heat pump offer has reached its cap of 20,000 households. Demand was high and the spots went fast. So you cannot sign up for this winter. What to do: aim for next season. Éconologis is a seasonal program (October 1 to March 31) that reopens registration every year. Bookmark the two official pages — Éconologis and the free heat pumps — and register as soon as it opens: these free spots disappear quickly. In the meantime, you can smooth your bill right now. Hydro-Québec's Equalized Payments Plan spreads your estimated annual consumption into equal…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

Red Seal bonus: it will now be taxable in Quebec

Red Seal bonus: it will now be taxable in Quebec

On August 12, Quebec harmonized its tax system with federal measures: the Red Seal Success Bonus will be included in income and subject to source withholding.

An August 12 announcement. Quebec's Ministry of Finance has announced the harmonization of the Quebec tax system with certain federal measures introduced by Bill C-31, along with measures made public in a federal government release of July 23, as set out in the Ministry of Finance's full release. This Quebec news page is available in French only. The Red Seal Success Bonus. The change that will affect the most individuals concerns the Red Seal Success Bonus: this bonus will now be included in the recipient's income in the year it is received, and will be subject to source withholding of Quebec income tax at the time of payment, as stated in the Ministry of Finance release. In practice: if you receive this federal bonus, a Quebec tax amount will be withheld directly from the payment, and the amount will be added to your taxable income for the year. What is the Red Seal Bonus? The Red Seal is a federal certification for skilled trades (electrician, welder, cook, etc.). The Red Seal Success Bonus rewards people who obtain this certification. The federal government proposed this tax treatment on July 23 to encourage people to earn the certification, and Quebec is now aligning with it. On the QST side. The release also announces the harmonization of the QST system with federal measures on GST/HST tax debt avoidance, financial services related to certain insurance policies, and…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

Vehicle Registration: $50 Less from September 1, 2026

Vehicle Registration: $50 Less from September 1, 2026

The Quebec government cuts vehicle registration fees by $50 for 12 months, starting September 1, 2026.

A $50 reduction. Starting September 1, 2026, renewing your vehicle registration will cost $50 less. The Quebec government announced this reduction in registration fees to help drivers cope with higher fuel prices. The announcement is available in French only. A temporary 12-month measure. The reduction applies when you renew your registration and stays in effect from September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027, according to the SAAQ newsroom. After that date, registration fees return to their usual amount. Nothing to do. The reduction is applied automatically at renewal, whether you go through SAAQclic online or a SAAQ service point. You don't need to ask for it or add anything to your file. One of three measures. This reduction is part of a package announced in May 2026 to ease the cost of living, along with the removal of QST from certain basic food and hygiene products and help of up to $200 for households most affected by higher grocery and energy costs. At the time, the government estimated that a family with two children could save close to $350 over a full year. Good to know for newcomers: if you have just bought a car in Quebec, your renewal bill will be $50 lighter until August 31, 2027. Keep your SAAQ renewal notice — it shows the exact amount to pay and the deadline. Remember that car insurance is mandatory in Quebec and is handled separately, through a private insurer.

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

Canada Child Benefit 2026-2027: up to $8,157 per child

Canada Child Benefit 2026-2027: up to $8,157 per child

The federal payment to families rises with the July 20, 2026 deposit. Here are the new maximums — and the one thing you must not forget to keep receiving it.

Do you have a child in Canada? On top of Quebec's Family Allowance, there is a separate federal benefit: the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), a tax-free monthly payment from the Canada Revenue Agency to families with a child under 18. Starting with the July 2026 payment, the amounts go up. Every July, the CCB is recalculated and indexed — adjusted to the cost of living. For the benefit year now beginning, the federal government announced an increase: the maximum rises to $8,157 per year for each child under 6 and $6,883 for each child aged 6 to 17, according to the July 20, 2026 Employment and Social Development Canada news release. That's up to $160 more per young child and $135 more per older child than a year ago. The amount YOU get depends on your income. A family with an adjusted family net income below $38,237 receives the maximum for each child. Above that threshold, the benefit is gradually reduced, as the CRA's How much you can get page explains. Two neighbouring families almost never get the same sum — that's normal. If your child qualifies for the disability tax credit, a supplement is added automatically: the child disability benefit can reach $3,480 per year ($290 per month) for July 2026 to June 2027. You make no separate application — the CRA adds it to your CCB payment. The one thing not to forget: file your tax return. This is where many newcomers slip. The CCB…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

RAMQ Drug Plan: Maximum Premium Now $789 for 2026-2027

RAMQ Drug Plan: Maximum Premium Now $789 for 2026-2027

As of July 1, 2026, the public drug plan's rates have changed. What someone covered by RAMQ pays, explained simply.

In Quebec, having drug coverage is mandatory. If you don't have access to private insurance (through your job or your spouse's), you're covered by the public prescription drug plan run by RAMQ. Every July 1, its rates are adjusted — and on July 1, 2026, they went up. The maximum annual premium rises to $789. According to RAMQ's June 30, 2026 announcement, the maximum premium climbs from $766 to $789 per person (a 3% increase). Note: this is a maximum. You pay between $0 and $789 depending on your net family income — low-income people pay nothing. This premium isn't paid at the counter: it's calculated once a year, when you file your Quebec income tax return, and the current figures are set out on RAMQ's Rates in effect page. Beyond the premium, there's what you pay at the pharmacy. Each month you buy medication, you first pay a deductible (the first $21.25), then 30% coinsurance on the rest of the bill. It's all capped: your maximum monthly contribution is $105.25. Once you hit that ceiling within a month, your covered medications are free until the month ends. Some people pay neither premium nor deductible. The children of plan members, people aged 65 and over who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement at the maximum rate, and social assistance recipients are exempt from the contribution. If you're unsure which category you fall into, RAMQ confirms it when you…

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Vieauqc TeamJuly 22, 2026

Cost of Living

Quebec income tax 2026: the 2.05% indexation that lightens your paycheque

Quebec income tax 2026: the 2.05% indexation that lightens your paycheque

Tax brackets and the basic personal amount rise 2.05% in 2026 — $863M of relief for taxpayers. Here's what it changes in practice.

Every year, Quebec "indexes" its tax system: it nudges the thresholds upward to keep pace with rising prices. If you've just arrived, it's a quiet piece of good news that touches almost every paycheque. The indexation. For the 2026 taxation year, the indexing rate is 2.05%. That figure reflects the rise in consumer prices seen in Quebec the previous year. In practice, most tax credits, thresholds and benefits go up by the same amount. The basic personal amount. This is the slice of income on which you pay no provincial tax at all. In 2026 it reaches $18,952, according to the official parameters of the tax system. In other words, the first $18,952 you earn in the year is not taxed by Quebec. The brackets. Quebec's income tax is progressive: the rate climbs in slices. For 2026, the indexed brackets are: 14% up to $54,345, then 19% from $54,345 to $108,680, 24% from $108,680 to $132,245, and 25.75% above that. Because the thresholds rose, the same portion of your salary can fall into a lower bracket than in 2025. The effect on your wallet. The government pegs the overall gain at $931 million across all households, including more than $863 million of relief for taxpayers. Spread over millions of people, that works out to a few dozen dollars per paycheque on an average salary — modest, but real, especially when everything costs more. Good to know for newcomers. The indexation…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

Groceries 2026: Nearly $1,000 More per Family

Groceries 2026: Nearly $1,000 More per Family

Food prices are set to rise 4–6% in 2026, with Quebec above the national average. What that means when you build your first grocery budget.

When you settle in Quebec, groceries are often the first big budget surprise. And 2026 offers no relief: prices keep climbing, a bit faster here than elsewhere in the country. The forecast. Canada's annual food price report projects a 4% to 6% rise in food prices in 2026. For a family of four, the yearly grocery bill would reach roughly $17,572, up to $994.63 more than in 2025. Quebec above the average. After a fairly quiet year, Quebec this time is expected to post an increase above the national average. So don't assume the prices in a national flyer reflect what you'll actually pay here. What's pushing prices up. Meat leads the way: beef could climb up to 7%, driven by smaller herds and trade tensions with the United States. Tariffs and climate-related crop disruptions add to the pressure. An increase that compounds. These percentages stack year after year. That's why today's basket already weighs far more than it did a few years ago — a reminder that "inflation is slowing" does not mean "prices are falling." Good to know for newcomers. A few local habits make a real difference. Compare the weekly flyers (circulaires) — several chains offer price-matching against competitors. Look at the price per 100 g or per kilo, not just the shelf price. Neighbourhood grocers, ethnic markets and warehouse stores often beat the big banners on staples. And if money is tight, the ACEF…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

QPP 2026: Earnings Ceiling Rises to $74,600

QPP 2026: Earnings Ceiling Rises to $74,600

The Quebec Pension Plan earnings ceiling rises to $74,600 in 2026, with a maximum contribution of $4,479.30. A breakdown for new workers.

On your first paycheque in Quebec, a "QPP" line (Quebec Pension Plan) trims your take-home pay. It's a mandatory contribution that funds your future retirement pension. The parameters change every year — here are the 2026 figures. The earnings ceiling. The maximum pensionable earnings (MPE) rises to $74,600 in 2026. Above that amount, you no longer contribute to the base plan. The starting exemption. Your first $3,500 of work income is exempt. The contribution is therefore calculated on the slice of salary between $3,500 and $74,600. The rate. As an employee, you pay 6.3% on that slice — that is, 5.3% for the base plan plus 1% for the first additional contribution. The maximum employee contribution reaches $4,895.30 for the year (base contribution and supplements included, up to $85,000 in earnings). Your employer pays an equal share on their side. Higher salaries. If you earn more than $74,600, a second additional contribution of 4% applies to the slice between $74,600 and $85,000, up to a maximum of $416. Above $85,000, you stop contributing. Why it keeps rising. These ceilings track growth in the average wage. A higher contribution today builds a more generous pension later: the QPP isn't a tax you lose, it's forced saving in your name. Good to know for newcomers. You contribute to the QPP from your very first job, whatever your immigration status, as long as you work…

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Vieauqc TeamJuly 19, 2026

Cost of Living

Family Allowance 2026: up to $3,068 per child

Family Allowance 2026: up to $3,068 per child

Quebec's Family Allowance rises 2.05% in 2026. Here's what families with children get — and why you usually don't have to apply.

Do you have children in Quebec? One of the most important financial supports for your budget is called Family Allowance — a benefit paid by Retraite Québec (the public body that manages pensions and family benefits) to nearly every family with a child under 18. In 2026, the amounts go up. Every January, the amounts are indexed — meaning adjusted to the cost of living to keep pace with inflation. For 2026, Quebec's tax-system indexation rate is 2.05%, so Family Allowance rises by that same percentage. Here are the concrete figures for 2026. The maximum amount is $3,068 per child per year (up from $3,006 in 2025), and the minimum is $1,221 per child (up from $1,196). You receive an amount somewhere between those two ends. The official figures are laid out on Retraite Québec's Family Allowance amounts page. The amount YOU get depends on your situation. Three things drive it: your family income, the number of children in your care, and your marital status. The higher your income, the closer your amount sits to the minimum. The calculation is redone every July using your income from the previous year — you do nothing for that recalculation. Raising your child on your own? A single-parent family (one parent in the household) receives a supplement on top of the base amount: up to $1,077 more per child, with a minimum of $430. This supplement is automatic — no separate…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

Employment Insurance 2026: What Comes Off Your Pay

Employment Insurance 2026: What Comes Off Your Pay

A rate of $1.30 per $100, a maximum insurable earnings of $68,900 and a maximum benefit of $729 a week: the 2026 numbers for Quebec workers.

Employment Insurance (EI) is a federal program, so it covers workers everywhere in Canada, Quebec included. It's a small amount taken off every paycheque — your premium (cotisation) — that entitles you, if you lose your job through no fault of your own, to a weekly benefit (prestation) while you look for work. Because the program is federal, it's Ottawa, not Quebec, that sets its rules and rates. But Quebec has its own, lower rate than the rest of Canada. In 2026, a Quebec worker pays $1.30 per $100 of insurable earnings, compared with $1.63 elsewhere in the country. The reason is straightforward: Quebec runs its own maternity, paternity and parental benefits through the QPIP (Quebec Parental Insurance Plan / RQAP). That portion isn't covered by federal EI in Quebec, so your EI rate is reduced accordingly, as the federal commission confirmed when it set the 2026 rate. The maximum insurable earnings (MIE) rises to $68,900 in 2026. This is the salary ceiling you pay premiums on: above it, nothing more is deducted for EI. The maximum climbs from $65,700 in 2025 to $68,900 this year, an increase of $3,200, per the federal notice on 2026 maximum insurable earnings. In practice, a Quebec employee's maximum annual premium is $895.70. Put another way, even on a high salary you'll never pay more than that to EI in a year. Your employer pays at a higher rate — roughly $1.82 per $100…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

QPIP 2026: Your Premium Drops, Here's Why

QPIP 2026: Your Premium Drops, Here's Why

The parental-insurance premium taken off your paycheque drops in 2026, while the covered income rises to $103,000.

Look closely at your next pay stub. A small line labelled "QPIP" shows up every time you get paid. QPIP is the Québec Parental Insurance Plan — a public program that pays income to parents during maternity, paternity, parental, or adoption leave. In 2026, the premium (the amount taken off your wages to fund the plan) goes down. By how much? The government cut the premium rates by roughly 13% as of January 1, 2026, according to the official Québec government announcement. For a salaried worker, the rate drops to 0.430% of your work income, with a maximum annual contribution of $442.90, as shown on the QPIP premium page. In practice: a few more dollars in your pocket each year, with nothing to do on your end. The "maximum insurable earnings" goes up, though. That's the salary ceiling used to calculate your premiums and, later, your benefits. It rises from $98,000 to $103,000 for 2026, per the QPIP news release. A higher ceiling means a future leave can be calculated on a larger share of your salary. Self-employed? You pay in too, but at a different rate: 0.764% of your net business income, up to the same $103,000 ceiling, for a maximum contribution of $786.92. You won't see it on a pay stub — you pay it when you file your Québec income tax return. Why it matters if you're thinking about starting a family. Because that small deduction is what gives you access to benefits…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

The GST credit has a new name — and a new amount: +25% with the groceries benefit

The GST credit has a new name — and a new amount: +25% with the groceries benefit

The CGEB replaces the GST/HST credit as of July 2026. Same rules, payments boosted 25% — and one exception aimed squarely at newcomers.

If you were getting the GST/HST credit every three months, stop looking for that name on your bank statement: as of July 2026, it's been replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB). The change isn't just a label — the amount goes up. What changes: +25%. The previous credit is boosted by 25% for the next five years, according to the Canada Revenue Agency. More than 12 million low- and modest-income Canadians are covered. The first payment of the enhanced benefit went out on July 3, 2026 and covers July, August and September, per the CRA payment dates. A one-time top-up payment was also issued in early June, during the transition. What doesn't change. The mechanics are essentially identical: same general eligibility rules, same calculation based on adjusted family net income and family situation, same quarterly payments from the Canada Revenue Agency. As a rough guide, the threshold sits below $60,012 for a single person with no children, and below $82,952 for a couple with four children, per the CRA income thresholds — the exact amounts vary with each situation. The exception that concerns you. This is the part not to miss: the benefit is automatic… except for new residents of Canada. For everyone else, the CRA determines eligibility from the income tax return, with no action needed. But a newcomer hasn't filed a Canadian return yet — so they don't exist…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

Back-to-School: $127 per Child, No Application Needed

Back-to-School: $127 per Child, No Application Needed

The school supplies supplement is paid automatically with the Family Allowance. Who qualifies, and what it doesn't cover.

Before the back-to-school bill lands, some good news: Quebec pays a school supplies supplement of $127 per child for the 2026-2027 school year. It's paid every year in July — July 2 this year — and it's granted regardless of family income, according to Retraite Québec. The amount was adjusted for inflation, an increase of about 2.05% over last year, as MTL Blog reports. What makes it unusual: there's nothing to do. Two features set it apart from most benefits. First, no form, no application: it's paid automatically to families already receiving the Family Allowance from Retraite Québec, alongside the regular payment. Second — and this is rare — family income is not a factor: the amount is granted regardless of what you earn. Who qualifies. The child must be between 4 and 16 years old as of September 30, 2026 (up to 17 for a child receiving a supplement for handicapped children). Under shared custody (a 40% to 60% split), each parent receives half the amount, or $63.50. The catch for newcomers. The key phrase is "automatically… for families already receiving the Family Allowance." If you've just arrived and aren't yet registered for the Family Allowance with Retraite Québec, you're not in the system — and the supplement can't find you on its own. Registering for the Family Allowance is the door in, not the supplement itself. What $127 doesn't cover. Let's be clear about the…

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

No More QST on Toilet Paper and Muffins

No More QST on Toilet Paper and Muffins

Since July 15, Quebec has dropped its 9.975% tax on a specific list of grocery and hygiene products. Here's which ones — and the catches.

Since July 15, 2026, a specific list of grocery and hygiene products is zero-rated under the QST system: Quebec's 9.975% sales tax no longer applies to them. The measure, announced in May, is permanent and targets everyday items, according to Revenu Québec. What loses the QST. The list is more precise than it looks, because it runs on thresholds: - Frozen desserts in individual portions under 500 g or 500 ml: ice cream, frozen milk, sorbet, frozen yogurt. - Sweetened baked goods in individual portions under 230 g, or sold in packages of fewer than 6 units: donuts, cookies, muffins, cakes, tarts. - Desserts: dessert cream (pudding), flavoured gelatin, mousse. - Prepared fruits and vegetables: fruit salads and platters, trays of cut and washed vegetables, including any dip that comes with them. - Snacks: mixes of oat flakes or other cereals, seeds, nuts and dried fruit (trail-mix style), plus salted or seasoned nuts and seeds — provided sugar isn't a main ingredient of the seasoning. - Toilet paper and facial tissues. The catches. Three of them, and they cancel out the saving if you miss them. First, the federal GST still applies — only the provincial tax goes away, so the till doesn't drop to zero tax. Second, these foods stay taxable when sold in an establishment where all or substantially all food and beverage sales are taxable: in practice, most restaurants. Third,…

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Vieauqc TeamAugust 15, 2026

Cost of Living

TFSA and RRSP: the 2026 limits for saving tax-free

TFSA and RRSP: the 2026 limits for saving tax-free

Two accounts every newcomer should know, and how much you can put in this year.

Canada offers two tax-advantaged savings accounts worth understanding early: the TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) and the RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan). These aren't investments themselves, but "wrappers" inside which your money grows without being taxed the way an ordinary account would be. The TFSA in brief. For 2026, the annual TFSA contribution limit is $7,000, unchanged from 2025. Money grows tax-free inside it, and your withdrawals are not taxed. Unused room carries forward year to year. Careful: contributing more than your limit triggers a penalty of 1% per month on the excess. The RRSP in brief. The RRSP limit is 18% of your earned income from the previous year, up to a maximum of $33,810 for 2026. Unlike the TFSA, your contributions lower your taxable income — but your withdrawals are taxed (the idea being to withdraw in retirement, when your tax rate is lower). TFSA or RRSP? In short: the TFSA is flexible (tax-free withdrawals, ideal for a medium-term goal or an emergency cushion), while the RRSP is aimed mainly at retirement and gives an immediate tax break. Many people use both. Good to know for newcomers. You start accumulating TFSA contribution room as soon as you're 18 and have a social insurance number, once you're a resident of Canada — but not for the years before you arrived. Always check your actual room in your My Account file with the…

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Vieauqc TeamJuly 16, 2026

Cost of Living

Quebec's minimum wage in 2026: $16.60 an hour

Quebec's minimum wage in 2026: $16.60 an hour

The general rate went up on May 1, 2026: what it means for your paycheque.

Since May 1, 2026, Quebec's general minimum wage has been $16.60 an hour. That's the legal floor below which an employer cannot pay you for most jobs in the province. A different rate for tipped employees. If you work as a server, or in a role where you regularly receive tips, the minimum rate is lower, at $13.30 an hour. The idea is that tips top up the wage — but your employer must still respect that floor. Who sets the rate? The amount is set by the Quebec government and generally reviewed once a year, on May 1. The CNESST (Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail) enforces it. If you're paid less than the minimum, you can file a complaint with them. What it looks like on a paycheque. At $16.60 an hour and 35 hours a week, that's roughly $581 gross per week, before deductions (income tax, QPP, QPIP, employment insurance). The net amount that lands in your account is lower — you can estimate it with our net salary calculator. Good to know for newcomers. The minimum wage applies regardless of your immigration status, as long as you have the right to work. Your rights (overtime, statutory holidays, vacation) are the same as everyone else's. A first job at minimum wage is common when you arrive: it doesn't lock you in — it gets you into the local job market.

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Vieauqc TeamSeptember 9, 2026

Cost of Living

Hydro-Québec 2026: +3% on Your Electricity Bill

Hydro-Québec 2026: +3% on Your Electricity Bill

A 3% increase took effect April 1, 2026; here's what to expect on your bill.

In Quebec, nearly every household is supplied by Hydro-Québec, the provincial Crown corporation. Most homes are billed at Rate D, the standard residential rate. Since April 1, 2026, domestic rates have gone up by 3%. How rates are set. Increases aren't decided by Hydro-Québec alone: they're overseen by the Régie de l'énergie, the regulator. Hydro-Québec files a rate application, public hearings are held, and new rates generally take effect on April 1. The adjustment mainly reflects inflation and operating costs. What makes up your bill. A residential bill rests on two main parts: a system access charge (a fixed amount per day) and your energy consumption, measured in kilowatt-hours. The more you heat and light, the higher the consumption portion climbs — which is why winter bills are far higher than summer ones. Heating is the real expense. Electricity in Quebec remains among the cheapest in North America, but winter changes the math: many homes are heated electrically, and a January bill can be several times a July one. You can review the detailed residential rates on Hydro-Québec's site. Good to know for newcomers. When you move in, open your account with Hydro-Québec to put service in your name. Consider the Equalized Payments Plan, which spreads the annual cost into steady monthly payments — handy for avoiding the winter-bill shock when you're discovering electric…

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