On September 24 and 25, 2022, Hurricane Fiona swept through Atlantic Canada and part of Quebec, causing heavy rain and high winds. Impacts included flooding, road washouts, downed trees, utility outages, and damage to coastal infrastructure.

This widespread damage is having a devastating impact on many businesses and Canadians residing in these areas. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) understands that at this time, the safety and well-being of loved ones is the primary concern for those affected.

The CRA is committed to a proactive approach to providing relief to the communities and taxpayers impacted by this event whenever possible.

The Government of Canada has proposed new financial support measures to make life more affordable for Canadians. The proposed Canada Dental Benefit would provide financial support for children under 12 years old if they receive dental care for which the parent has out of pocket costs and does not have access to a private dental insurance plan. The proposed one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit would provide a $500 payment to low-income renters facing housing affordability challenges. The government also proposed to double the Goods and Services Tax Credit (GSTC) for six months for those who receive it.

For GSTC recipients who have already received a payment this year, there would be no need to apply for the additional payment. The additional GSTC amount would be issued to eligible recipients automatically.