Mr. Speaker, this government is supporting the child care choices of all families with young children in a clear and tangible way through the universal child care benefit, UCCB.
Since July 2006 the UCCB has been providing $100 each month, that is $2.4 billion per year, for two million children under six years of age.
This direct financial support helps parents, regardless of where they live, their hours of work or the choices they make, pay for the type of care that is best for their family.
The UCCB has lifted an estimated 24,000 families with about 55,000 children out of low income. This estimate is based on the social Policy Directorate’s microsimulation model that examines the distributional impacts of changes to tax and transfer programs.
The two-point reduction in the GST rate, from 7% to 5%, provides substantial tax relief to all Canadians, including those who do not earn enough to pay income tax.