Continuing to lower taxes for Canadians under our Conservative Government

Since 2006, our Conservative Government has provided significant tax relief for families. In fact, we’ve cut taxes over 160 times saving the average family $3,400 every year. It’s a record that many Canadian families have benefitted from. For example, almost a million and a half families have taken advantage of the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit. And approximately 1.7 million families with young children receive the Universal Child Care Benefit.

However, our Government is always looking for new ways to help. That’s why we’re working to put even more cash back into the pockets of hard-working Canadian families. We’re building on our record with new measures that will continue to help offset the costs of raising a family, such as child care and sports activities.

First, to increase tax fairness, we are introducing the new Family Tax Cut. Since we have had such success with income splitting for seniors, we are now offering a similar initiative for families. The Family Tax Cut will allow the higher-earning parent to, in effect, transfer taxable income to the other parent who is in a lower tax bracket, up to a maximum benefit of $2,000. This will enhance fairness by treating families with the same overall incomes in a comparable way.

We are also introducing an increase and expansion of the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB). We are proud that since 2006, the UCCB has delivered choice for parents when it comes to child care. We are now increasing the benefit to $160 per month per child under the age of six, or $1,920 per year. And we’re delivering a new benefit of $60 per month, or $720 per year, per child aged six through seventeen. About four million families are expected to benefit from the enhancements to the Universal Child Care Benefit.

We are also increasing each of the Child Care Expense Deduction dollar limits by $1,000. This is the initiative that allows child care expenses to be deducted from taxable income if the child care is due to the parent working, going to school or performing research. The limits will be increased to $8,000 from $7,000 per child under age seven, $5,000 from $4,000 for each child aged seven to sixteen (and infirm dependent children over age sixteen), and $11,000 from $10,000 for children who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.

Finally, our Government has previously announced changes to the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit. We are doubling the amount parents can claim for enrolling their children in sports activities to $1,000. And as of the 2015 tax year, the credit will be refundable, increasing the benefit for low-income families who claim it that year and subsequent years.

While our Government builds on our strong record of significant tax relief for families, Canadians can be sure that if given the opportunity, the Opposition would reverse all the work that’s been accomplished so far. Instead, our Conservative Government is focused on continuing to stand up for families.

Robert Sopuck, MP
Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette

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