Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question. He knows very well that the provinces claw back some of that money. He knows darn well that is exactly what happens. He is shaking his head but those are the facts. Francine Cosman, community services minister of the Liberal Nova Scotia government, stated quite clearly that it claws back some of that money. That is exactly what it does.
They are very proud of the national child benefit. I admit it was a good first start to helping low income families but it is nowhere near enough. If that money went directly to the families and not through the provinces, it would have a much greater effect.