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MORGAN MODJESKI \/ FREE PRESS<\/p>\n
Behailu Sebreszabher, co-owner of Raei Convenience and Halal Meat Ltd. on Notre Dame Avenue, says he feels payments coming from Canada\u2019s Groceries and Essentials Benefit will help Canadians struggling with rising costs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way I\u2019m busy now, I\u2019m just happy if customers are getting more,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Building on the GST\/HST credit usually paid out quarterly, the one-time payment is a major part of the Liberals\u2019 plan to help Canadians. It\u2019s worth about 50 per cent of the annual benefit, with regular quarterly payments climbing by 25 per cent for the next five years as well, starting in July.<\/p>\n
Announced in January, the payments are part of $3.1 billion in federal government support and will reach a total of 12 million Canadians. A news release from Ottawa said the support is needed as the world economy goes through a rapid transformation \u201cthrusting countries, businesses, and workers into a period of uncertainty.\u201d<\/p>\n
Louise Barker, who was walking near Notre Dame Avenue Friday, said the of cash is just not enough to make a real difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got, like, five people to feed besides myself,\u201d she said. \u201cThat wouldn\u2019t even cover very much in groceries. Everything went up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Branden Desmarais, who was in the parking lot outside a No Frills store, said the cash is a \u201cdrop in the bucket.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not really too beneficial,\u201d he said. \u201cIt helps us for a week or two and then it\u2019s on us for the rest of the year?\u201d <\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
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However, Harvest Manitoba CEO and president Vince Barletta said the payment will make a difference for the food bank\u2019s clients, the majority of whom have $100 or less a week budgeted for groceries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re seeing record numbers of Canadians going to food banks,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s real dollars going into the pockets of millions of Canadians that could really use it right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Rebecca Alty, who joined Barletta Friday to announce that the payments were starting to flow said this round of payments is just \u201cpart of the puzzle\u201d to making life more affordable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can appreciate today that folks have money in their pocket to be able to make more of those purchases, but for me, it\u2019s just a start\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
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