With the school year set to commence, Patty Hadju, the minister of Employment Workforce development and Labour announced an increase to the Canada Child Benefit. In Oakland Community Centre surrounded by parents and children, Minister Hadju read a book and led a craft to the delight of those in attendance.
Minister Hadju says that today’s announcement was about keeping up with inflation. "Up to $100 dollars more for the maximum benefit so families will receive a slight increase based on the cost of living. It will keep up with the pace of inflation which is the most important piece. We know that if a benefit remains stagnant and doesn’t go up with inflation, if fact it is worth less effectively. What we wanted to make sure is that this benefit provides all of the support families we intended it to do. Whether it is to buy groceries, winter clothes or transportation that is the great thing about this benefit. Families can choose which way is going to be the most helpful to them to use the benefit."
The CCB maximum annual benefit will now be $6,496 for children under 6 years, and $5,481 for children 6 through 17.