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What is Canada's Universal Child Care Plan?

Canada's Universal Child Care Plan provides families with resources to help balance work and family as they see fit — regardless of where they live, whatever their circumstances or preferences. The Plan has two parts: direct support to families through the Universal Child Care Benefit; and transfers to provinces and territories and a new investment tax credit for businesses for the creation of child care spaces.

What is the Universal Child Care Benefit?

The Universal Child Care Benefit provides financial assistance to Canadian families with young children. Parents receive $100 a month — up to $1,200 a year — for each child under six.

Application forms are available on the Canada Revenue Agency Web site or by visiting a Canada Revenue Agency office or Service Canada Centre.

For more information:

For more information on how to receive the Universal Child Care Benefit, visit the Canada Revenue Agency Web site or call 1 800 387-1193 or TTY 1 800 665-0354.

For general information on Canada's Universal Child Care Plan, visit www.universalchildcare.ca or call 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) or TTY 1 800 926-9105.

How will new child care spaces be created?

As per Budget 2007, we are transferring $250M each year to provinces and territories to support their priorities for child care spaces – so they can continue to build their child care systems to meet the needs of their own citizens.

In addition, a 25 per cent investment tax credit is available to eligible businesses that create new child care spaces in the workplace, to a maximum of $10,000 per space created. This will allow employers to respond to their business needs and the needs of their employees.

More information:
The Investment Tax Credit
Canada Revenue Agency