Mr. Speaker, certainly the minister understands that for a single parent who earns $30,000 and receives that so-called $1,200 family allowance, the dollar amount that he or she will receive is only $460. As for one parent who is working, as the minister has mentioned, the person will receive only $673 per year. This means that half of it is being clawed back or taxed back. For a two income family, for a couple that earns $35,000, it is even worse. Two out of three dollars are clawed back or taxed back. If the person is on social assistance, there is absolutely no guarantee that the $1,200 family allowance will not be clawed back by the provincial government.
The government's promise on this rings hollow if it is taxable or available for clawback. I hope the new government is not learning from the old Liberal government and making a lot of promises but not doing a lot of delivery. That would be truly disappointing.
Will the minister please work with the NDP and support the NDP and Bloc plan that basically says to protect that $1,200 family allowance delivered through the child tax benefit so that not one dollar of it would be taxed back or clawed back?