This summer the federal government announced a new $425 million investment in the National Child Benefit (NCB) along with expanded provincial/territorial investments to help low-income families and combat child poverty. This initiative will bring the federal government’s total investment in the NCB to $1.7 billion a year and our total assistance to families with children to almost $7 billion a year - an amount that will continue to grow.

This new investment means that starting today, families with net incomes of up to $21, 214 will receive $977 annually for the first child (up from $785), $771 for the second child (up from $585) and $694 for each additional child (up from $510) through the NCB. As a supplement paid through the Canada Child Tax Benefit, the NCB supplement is now fully indexed to keep up with the cost of living.

It is important to note that no family will be receiving less in benefits as a result of the national Child Benefit. All jurisdictions are protecting the income support that families on social assistance receive. Our commitment to the fight against child poverty is as strong as ever and we continue to urge our provincial and territorial partners to work with us - in the context of the National Children’s Agenda - toward an agreement on further ways to support parents and families.