C-56Affordable Housing and Groceries Act
An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act
Government bill, introduced in the House of Commons on September 21, 2023
- Status
- Became law on December 15, 2023 · S.C. 2023, c. 31
What it does
Changes the GST rebate for new rental housing and updates Competition Act rules on market inquiries and anti-competitive conduct.
What it does
- Expands the GST New Residential Rental Property Rebate for qualifying purpose-built rental housing started after September 13, 2023, and completed before 2036.
- Changes how the rebate is calculated for qualifying purpose-built rental housing, including rules for condominium units and other units.
- Adjusts rebate rules for public service bodies so tax used in this rental-housing rebate is not counted again under section 259.
- Creates a process for the Competition Commissioner or the minister to start an inquiry into competition in a market or industry, with public comment on draft terms of reference and a report deadline.
- Adds excessive and unfair selling prices to the abuse-of-dominance rules, allows stronger Tribunal orders, and raises possible administrative monetary penalties.
- Removes the efficiency-gains exceptions in sections 90.1 and 96, and lets the Tribunal act on some agreements even when the parties are not competitors.
Who it affects
- Purpose-built rental housing builders
- Public service bodies
- Businesses in affected markets
- Dominant firms
- Companies in anti-competitive agreements
- Competition Bureau
- Competition Tribunal
Background
The bill amends the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Completed.
Introduced by a cabinet minister on behalf of the government. Government bills get set time for debate, so they are the most likely to become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-56, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act
Vote 606,
Passed
315 yeato1 nay · 4 paired
Party breakdown for vote 606 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 146 0 12 Conservative Yea1 broke ranks 113 1 3 Bloc Yea 30 0 2 NDP Yea 23 0 2 Green Yea 1 0 1 Independent Yea 2 0 1 Total 315 1 Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-56, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act
Vote 474,
Passed
309 yeato0 nay · 14 paired
Party breakdown for vote 474 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 147 0 11 Conservative Yea 109 0 8 Bloc Yea 28 0 4 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Did not vote 0 0 2 Independent Yea 1 0 2 Total 309 0 Bill C-56, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act (report stage amendment) (Motion No. 3)
Vote 473,
Passed
309 yeato0 nay · 14 paired
Party breakdown for vote 473 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 147 0 11 Conservative Yea 109 0 8 Bloc Yea 28 0 4 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Did not vote 0 0 2 Independent Yea 1 0 2 Total 309 0 Bill C-56, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act (report stage amendment) (Motion No. 2)
Vote 472,
Failed
137 yeato171 nay · 14 paired
Party breakdown for vote 472 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 147 11 Conservative Yea 109 0 8 Bloc Yea 28 0 4 NDP Nay 0 24 1 Green Did not vote 0 0 2 Independent Did not vote 0 0 3 Total 137 171 Bill C-56, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act (report stage amendment) (Motion No. 1)
Vote 471,
Failed
139 yeato172 nay · 14 paired
Party breakdown for vote 471 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 147 11 Conservative Yea 109 0 8 Bloc Yea 28 0 4 NDP Nay 0 24 1 Green Nay 0 1 1 Independent Yea 2 0 1 Total 139 172 2nd reading of Bill C-56, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Competition Act
Vote 456,
Passed
309 yeato1 nay · 12 paired
Party breakdown for vote 456 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 148 0 10 Conservative Yea 108 0 9 Bloc Yea 28 0 4 NDP Yea 22 0 3 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Split evenly 1 1 1 Total 309 1
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalChrystia Freeland· September 25, 2023
“I would like to explain why it is so important that we work together to pass this bill. This bill includes urgent measures to make life more affordable for Canadians, including removing the GST on the construction of new apartment buildings, which would help get more rental homes built faster.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeRyan Williams· September 25, 2023
“As much as we can shrug and say this bill would do some of what we want to do to tackle grocery prices in Canada, this bill misses one of the biggest, most pressing actions of all, which is to remove the carbon tax, which is added for farmers with no rebate. The median price is $150,000 per farm.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocJean-Denis Garon· September 25, 2023
“I want you to know that I am very critical of this bill. Obviously, it does not set out any harmful measures.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPDaniel Blaikie· September 25, 2023
“Bill C-56 sets out what the government is proposing to accomplish that. There are some good ideas about the Competition Bureau.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caGreenElizabeth May· October 5, 2023
“Bill C-56, while well intentioned, would not make a big difference for Canadians in the cost of housing or food. That is not because the Liberal government is malevolent, but it is because it has taken the wrong approach, as have the Conservatives.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Royal assent received. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.