Canadians Struggle, Tapping Tax Refunds for Essentials

0:00Many Canadians are dipping into their tax refunds just to make ends meet amidst soaring everyday costs. New data reveals that 40% plan to use the money for general cost of living pressures, while 28% will cover basics like groceries and bills. Younger generations feel the squeeze most. 53% of Gen Z and 48% of millennials say they'll have refunds for essentials, far outpacing Gen X at 40%, and boomers at just 17%. Across the board, 67% describe local living costs as the worst they've ever known, topping even the 46% of Americans who agree. Grocery prices stand out as a huge worry, jumping from 61% among 18, to 29 year olds to 93% for those. 60 and older, partisan lines show sharper divides too, with 75% of conservative voters calling costs the worst ever compared to 58%. Percent of liberal supporters, affordability ranks as the top national issue everywhere,

1:01ahead of health care or housing. For now, these strains haven't fully eroded backing for Prime Minister Mark Carney's government, though approval dips among the hardest hit. With refunds becoming lifelines, families hope for some relief soon. This has been Toronto News Today, powered by AI.