Universal Child Care Benefit has helped millions of Canadian children since 2006

July 20, 2009

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, July 20, 2009—More than two million Canadian children a year benefit from the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) which was launched in July 2006. This marks the third year that the Government of Canada has been providing choice in child care through the UCCB.

Today, the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Member of Parliament for Charleswood-St.James-Assiniboia and Minister of State (Democratic Reform), on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, was joined by local families, educators and children at The West Portage YMCA-YWCA in Winnipeg to celebrate the third anniversary of the UCCB and other Government of Canada measures that support families and children.

“Federal investments in early learning and child care are at the highest level in Canadian history,” said Fletcher. “Through previous investments, including the UCCB and new measures introduced through the Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada is more committed than ever to supporting families and children.”

“Support for our children and families by the Government of Canada is critical to the success and well-being of all children in Canada,” said David Young, President and Chief Executive Officer, YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg.

The UCCB provides families with $100 a month for every child under the age of six. Since the launch of the UCCB three years ago, the Government of Canada has provided approximately $7.5 billion in direct funding to parents through the benefit. Currently, 1.5 million families receive the UCCB.

The UCCB 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 60,000 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 $850 million that the provinces and territories already receive through the Canada Social Transfer for children’s programs and services, for a total of $1.13 billion this year alone.

For more information and to subscribe to the Universal Child Care Plan electronic newsletter, please visit www.universalchildcare.ca.