OTTAWA, ONTARIO, JULY 5, 2010 – More than 2 million Canadian children have benefited from the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), which was launched in July 2006. This marks the fourth year that the Government of Canada has been providing choice in child care through the UCCB.
“Federal investments in early childhood development and child care are at the highest level in Canadian history,” said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “In Budget 2010, the Government of Canada is proposing to strengthen the Universal Child Care Benefit for single-parent families. This change will provide up to $168 in tax relief for single parents with one child under the age of six.”
The UCCB provides families with $100 a month for every child under the age of six. Since the launch of the UCCB four years ago, the Government of Canada has provided approximately $9.45 billion in direct funding to parents through the Benefit. Currently, approximately 1.5 million families receive the UCCB.
The Benefit is the first part of Canada’s Universal Child Care Plan, which helps families balance work and home responsibilities. The second part, introduced in Budget 2007, is the provision of an additional $250 million per year to the provinces and territories to create new child care spaces. In addition, a 25-percent investment tax credit is available for businesses that create new child care spaces in the workplace.
Since 2007, many provinces and territories have announced plans for new child care spaces—over 84,000 so far. Others are investing in enhancing the quality of their spaces, or making child care more affordable. The additional $250 million is on top of the $850 million that the provinces and territories already receive through the Canada Social Transfer in support of programs and services for young children, for a total of $1.133 billion this year alone.
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This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills
Development Canada
819-994-5559
