Government reminds parents about Universal Child Care Benefit

About 200,000 families haven't applied for a federal"cash payment," even though they're eligible says federal Employment MinisterPierre Poilievre.

Poilievre says federal government is trying to remind people about itsUniversal Childcare Benefit.

'There is a problem," said Poilievre today in Whitehorse. "My staff have looked at the StatsCan data and we found there are 4 million families with kids under 18, but only 3.8 million in our database. There are about 200,000 families that are not on the list and therefore won't receive it until they register."

The Universal Child Care Benefit applies to all Canadian families regardless of incomeso long as they have children under the age of 18.

Applying for the tax rebate is a separate process from filing income taxas people need to register their name in a database.

'Millions' unclaimed in Canada's North

In Whitehorse today, Poilievre said 800 Yukon families have not registered for the tax rebate.

Another 2,200 families have not registered in NWT and Nunavut.

'We're trying to reach out to themthrough the media, through community groups, so they can get signed up and receive those payments. For Northern communities like this it will literally mean millions of dollars in the local economy," he said.

Benefits increased this year

The tax break, increased this year, provides up to $1,920 per year for each child under the age of 6.

This year there is also a new benefit worth up to $720 per year for children aged 6 through 17.

Poilievre said many people don't know about the program.

"Let's say you have a family with two children under six, that's about $4,000 a year. That's serious money. For a middle-class family that's a lot of money."

Parentsare asked to register at www.Canada.ca/taxsavings.

Poilievre notes that anyone with questions can also call their MP.