Current Status
Status: Not Started No actions have been taken by the Carney government to increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement as promised.
Background
During the 2025 federal election, Mark Carney positioned himself as a champion for vulnerable Canadians, emphasizing economic policies to address inequality and support those hit hardest by rising costs. The promise to temporarily boost the Guaranteed Income Supplement targeted low-income seniors, a group often overlooked in broader economic recovery plans, by pledging a 5% increase that would deliver up to $652 annually on a tax-free basis. Fulfilling this would require legislative or regulatory changes to the Old Age Security framework, administered through Service Canada, to adjust GIS payments specifically for eligible recipients.
Evidence
The Carney government has not taken any concrete steps toward implementing a 5% increase in the Guaranteed Income Supplement since taking office on March 14, 2025. A January 26, 2026, announcement from the Prime Minister's Office focused on general affordability measures, including tax cuts and homebuilding initiatives, but made no reference to adjustments in seniors' benefits or the GIS program [7]. No legislation has been tabled, no regulatory amendments issued, and no funding allocated specifically for this purpose under Carney's tenure. Historical context from prior administrations, such as a 2020 one-time payment under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, does not apply here [8].
Assessment
Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has yet to deliver on its campaign pledge to provide low-income seniors with a temporary income boost through a 5% hike in the Guaranteed Income Supplement. With more than a year in office and no verifiable progress—such as amended legislation or adjusted payment schedules—the commitment remains unaddressed amid ongoing economic pressures facing seniors. This lack of action leaves the promise stalled, even as broader affordability efforts continue without targeting this specific group.
Sources
- Loading The Form - Canada.ca
- Request Rejected
- Request Rejected
- For people who owe support
- Prince Edward Island - Inventory of Legal Aid Plans in Canada - Legal Aid Eligibility and Coverage in Canada
- Old Age Security Act
- Prime Minister Carney announces new measures to make groceries and other essentials more affordable for Canadians | Prime Minister of Canada
- Canadian seniors to receive special payment in early July | Prime Minister of Canada