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Provinces May Claw Back Harper's New Child-Care Cheques From Social Assistance Recipients |
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Written by Staff
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Tuesday, 28 February 2006 |
Earlier today Nova Scotia's premier Rodney MacDonald was asked if his government would claw back the new federal Conservative "choice in childcare" payments from parents receiving income assistance. The same question is now being posed in Ontario and officials have refused to rule out such a clawback. Nova Scotia's premier and his Community Services Minister, David Morse have remained silent on the issue.
In both provinces, families who receive social assistance monthly cheques have historically had extra government funding clawed back from their basic amounts. In Nova Scotia, the Conservative government clawed back the National Child Tax Benefit Supplement until the policy came under harsh criticism. But when the government was forced to restore the supplement in 2002, they then eliminated the $133 a month per child personal allowance for families on income assistance. The province of Ontario continues to deduct the National Child Benefit Supplement from social assistance and disability cheques, despite assurances from the McGuinty government that the clawback would be discarded.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has pledged to introduce a bill that would honour a campaign promise to give parents $1,200 a year for each child under the age of six which would mean a monthly cheque in the amount of $100 per child. It is expected that the first cheques will be issued in July.
But for families who rely on social assistance, the new monthly stipend is likely to be taken back by the provinces. Following long-standing social assistance rules, the extra amounts would be deducted from the family monthly cheques before the family ever saw it. Conversely, families who do not financially require the new child-care allowance will have no choice - they will receive the money whether they want it or not. Some families have stated that the new money will go directly into savings accounts for their children.
Poverty advocate groups are warning that the poorest families may never receive the new child-care allowance while parents of more advantaged children will be opening bank accounts and teaching their children how to save for a rainy day. |
