Thank you for that very important question.
We decided that this measure was important for Canadian families. The Canada child benefit means more money for families during the toughest years, when their kids are growing up. You're right to say that thanks to our decision, families across the country are doing much better.
This program helps the vast majority of families, but not all of them. The wealthiest families, like my own, for example, don't need help. I had two kids under 18 when I first became an MP. It was important to determine which families needed this benefit, and that's what we did.
Families in your riding of Hull—Aylmer are unquestionably much better off. There are now 9,742 families receiving an average of $6,700 each, and 17,660 children have been helped by this benefit. That makes a huge difference for families. Families are clearly better off than before.
This decision was also important for the economy as a whole. When families have more money, they can make investments while contributing to our economy. It's a win-win situation for families and for the economy.