[johlindenbaum]

Canada has a quarterly “VAT” rebate (technically GST and PST, or HST depending on your province) scheme for lower incomes.

Make below X based on last year’s tax return? Here’s a quarterly cheque to offset the average individual’s sales tax.

[happymellon]

That sounds like a particularly bad way to do it, it's cheaper for poor people but only after they have spent the larger amount.

So if price was a barrier before, it will still be a barrier afterwards unless you can afford to loan your money out to the government for 3 months