Christmas trees, kids' toys and restaurant meals are among the items that Canadians will no longer have to pay sales tax on, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday as he also said his government would send many Canadians $250 cheques in the mail next year.

For two months beginning on Dec. 14 the federal goods and services tax will be lifted on a long list of items, many of which are popular items over the holidays for shopping and party hosting.

In a Thursday press conference, the government also said that in provinces where the provincial and federal sales tax is harmonized the entire sales tax will be lifted on the same items.