Jagmeet Singh

The federal government is going to temporarily double GST rebate cheques, increase aid to help low-income Canadians pay their rent and launch the first part of a national dental care plan.

The federal government intends to temporarily hike GST rebate cheques in a bid to ease some of the hurt of inflation for lower income Canadians.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet are in Vancouver on Monday for the start of a three-day retreat as they prepare for a fall sitting of Parliament, a new Conservative leader, and the ongoing pressures of the COVID-19 recovery and inflation.

Sources close to the government's proposed $5.3-billion dental-care program say the Liberals are planning a temporary solution that involves giving money directly to patients in order to keep their promise to the NDP while they work on a permanent answer.