The most significant impact is that families have a predictable income. It's not a lot, but per child it makes a big difference. In fact, for those at the low end of the income spectrum, it can mean the difference between using a food bank or not. We've seen the population profile of food bank users shift dramatically since the introduction of the child care benefit.
It gives families an option either to cover their basics or to start planning for the future, depending on where they are along the income continuum. What we're hearing from families is that they are very grateful to know that the funds are there to invest in the future or just to offset some of the high costs of early learning and child care services, or to supplement a child's experiences with music lessons, dance, or camp, that the family might not have been able to afford.