A federal minister has paid a visit to Windsor to tout improvements to the Canada Child Benefit program.
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jean-Yves Duclos visited and spoke to children at the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex Wednesday morning.
As of July 2018, middle income families saw an increase to the amount received under the program.
The increase is about two years ahead of schedule and by the end of next year, families will have received a boost from the program by 6 to 8%.
The CCB will now have a maximmum annual benefit of $6,496 per child per year under the age of 6 and $5,481 per child ages 6 to 17.
It's also non-taxable.
"Not only are they receiving more but they are receiving it in a more simple manner, receiving it every month as oppose to have to wait for spring when they file taxes and it is non-taxable so the spring surprise also disappears," he says.
AM800 file photo
In Windsor, 25,000 families benefit from the program.
"Windsor is an area which is receiving on average more because it is a lower income, more middle income class community. You go to Toronto, Vancouver these are areas of less middle class."
Overall, 9 out of 10 Canadian families benefit from the program to help pay for things like food, sports programs an dmusic lessons.
The federal government says the CCB has helped lift more than half a million people, including 300,000 children, out of poverty in Canada.