Ontario Gov't to seize federal child care cash

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/natio...ld-060228.html

Ontario's poorest families might never receive a monthly child-care allowance proposed by the new federal government because the province might claw it back, poverty advocates warn.
Stephen Harper reads to children at Copper House day care in Bolton, Ont., during the federal election campaign.

"I'd be horrified if they did," said Cynthia Wilkey, a lawyer with the Income Security Advocacy Centre in Toronto.

"But would it surprise me? No."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has promised to introduce a bill that would give parents $1,200 a year for each child under age six, meant to help pay for child care.

The proposed bill would have to be passed by MPs in the House of Commons after they resume sitting in April. Harper has said he would like to see the funds mailed out in monthly cheques starting in July.

However, the Ontario government has refused to rule out the possibility that it might deduct the federal funding from social assistance funds for the poor or disabled.

Wilkey pointed out that the province already deducts the National Child Benefit Supplement from social assistance and disability cheques, even though Premier Dalton McGuinty's Liberals promised to stop the clawback during the last election campaign.

No decision made yet: minister

Sandra Pupatello, minister of community and social services, said the government has not made a decision about the proposed child-care allowance, but defended the province's record.

"Our history since we became the government has been to try to make life better for people who are on social assistance, and I think that every single thing we've done since we've become the government has indicated that," said Pupatello.

She said the Ontario Liberals were focused on fighting to save an existing child-care funding deal that the province signed with the federal government when Paul Martin's Liberals still held power.

The federal Liberals had signed $5 billion in child-care agreements with several provinces before they were ousted in January's general election.

The Conservatives have told the provinces that it planned to end those agreements by March 2007.

Instead, they have promised the child-care allowances – regardless of a family's income – along with $250 million in tax credits to help employers and non-profit agencies create new day-care spaces.

The federal Liberals said on Tuesday that their top priority once the Commons resumes sitting on April 3 will be to fight the Tory child-care plan.

Didn't the provincial Fiberals promise to end clawbacks such as these during their last election campaign?
Not that I will be receiving a child care credit, nor do I receive social assistance, but continually picking on poor mothers is only hurting our society.

Our government is making it impossible for single mothers to work.

it is idle speculation....save your faux rage for when it really happens
ugh...

What's the big deal?

After all, the benefit is taxable anyways.