By Kyle Duggan and Craig Lord Prime Minister Mark Carney kicked off the winter session of Parliament on Monday by unveiling a new plank in the Liberals’ affordability agenda. Making the announcement from an Ottawa grocery store, the prime minister unveiled plans for the “Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit” — a 25 per cent hike to the GST credit over the next five years to help lower-income consumers deal with the high cost of groceries. If the measure is passed, the federal government says it will also issue a one-time payment in the spring worth 50 per cent of the credit. “Canada’s new government is acting today to provide a boost to those Canadian families who most need one, while creating a bridge to longer-term food security and affordability,” Carney…






