Several federal changes take effect in October, including updated Canada Revenue Agency interest rates, a 1.4% Old Age Security increase and earlier payouts for the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit.
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The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has announced quarterly interest rate changes that apply to amounts owed to the agency and amounts the agency owes individuals and corporations, taking effect from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. The rates will be seven per cent for overdue taxes, Canada Pension Plan contributions, and employment insurance premiums; five per cent for non-corporate taxpayer overpayments; and three per cent for taxable benefits for employees and shareholders arising from interest-free and low-interest loans.
Health Canada is also introducing new safety reporting requirements for drug and natural health product manufacturers beginning Oct. 1. Under the updated rules, manufacturers will be required to submit annual summary reports assessing all safety information, interim summary reports with analysis of specific safety information for natural health products, and issue-related summary reports prepared on Health Canada’s request that include a concise, critical analysis of a specific safety or effectiveness issue based on analysis of adverse reaction reports.
For controlled substance prescriptions, Health Canada’s regulatory updates for pharmacies take effect Oct. 1. The changes would authorize pharmacy technicians to receive verbal prescriptions and accept shipments, transfer orders, and manage disposals. Pharmacists would be given authority to change, extend, or transfer prescriptions of controlled substances for up to two years from the date the prescription was received. The rules would also allow pharmacy operations to sell controlled substances to a community or institutional pharmacy without requiring a dealer’s licence.
Eligible Canadians will receive quarterly tax-free payments from the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB) on Oct. 5. The payment amount is based on adjusted family net income using the 2025 tax return, with the source figures stating a maximum of $679 for a single individual, $890 for a married couple, and up to $234 per eligible child under age 19 for a family.
Old Age Security (OAS) payments are scheduled to increase in October by 1.4%. For people aged 65 to 74, the maximum monthly payment is listed as rising from $751.97 to $762.50; for those 75 and older, the maximum monthly payment is listed as rising from $827.17 to $838.75. Payments are set to go out Oct. 28.
A proposed filing deadline would affect some recipients of the Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR). The source states that a bill proposes Oct. 30 as the deadline for eligible Canadians to file outstanding tax returns to avoid missing CCR payments, noting that CCR is no longer paid out and that amounts depend on where a person lives, with a family of four listed as potentially receiving up to $1,800.
For tobacco packaging, retailers have until Oct. 31 to ensure modified cigarette packages meet updated guidelines, including a new health information message placed on the upper side-flap of cigarette packages. The source describes the change as stricter tobacco packaging laws reminding people of health risks.
Finally, a claims deadline is set for a court-approved settlement for current or former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who faced racial discrimination or racial harassment. The claims period for the $150-million settlement opened Oct. 15, 2025, and is scheduled to close exactly a year later on Oct. 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST. The source states the settlement covers those who have been or are currently enrolled as CAF members starting from April 17, 1985, up to and including the settlement approval date in January 2025, with amounts depending on duration and severity and ranging from $5,000 to $35,000.
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