The National Child Benefit

A unique partnership of the Government of Canada, Provinces and Territories and First Nations

The National Child Benefit website

In 1998, federal, provincial and territorial governments1 launched the National Child Benefit (NCB), which includes a First Nations component. The National Child Benefit aims to prevent and reduce the depth of child poverty in Canada, promote labour market attachment by ensuring that families will always be better off as a result of working, and reduce overlap and duplication by harmonizing program objectives and benefits across jurisdictions. Under the National Child Benefit, the Government of Canada is increasing child benefits it provides to all low-income families with children through the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB). In 2004/2005, federal investment in the National Child Benefit will approach $2.5 billion and total Canada Child Tax Benefit expenditures for all families will increase to approximately $9 billion. As a result, in July 2004 a family with one child will receive approximately $2,500 while a family with two children will receive close to $4,800 annually. These payments are made directly by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.

Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB) and National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS)

• The Government of Canada provides direct financial assistance to families with children through the Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB).
• The CCTB has two main elements: a basic benefit available to 80% of Canadian families with children and the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) targeted to low-income families.
• The NCBS is the federal contribution to the NCB initiative. This provides low-income families with additional child benefits on top of the basic benefit.
• The CCTB is administered by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA).
• Each July, the CCRA sends CCTB recipients a "Child Benefit Notice" which provides an explanation of the benefits they will receive for the next 12 months.

Click on the picture above to read the report

Child Benefits: Kids are Still Hungry (Autumn 1998)

A further critique of the Canada Child Tax Benefit and the clawback of benefits from families on welfare. The report estimates that only 17 percent of poor single-parent families and 59 percent of poor two-parent families with children are better off financially because of the new federal benefit. The rest of the families have the increase in benefits clawed back by provincial or territorial governments.