What did the Federal Budget do for or to charities?  Not very much, really.  There is some money for affordable housing, and that is really needed, but there is nothing to recognize that many charities are in financial trouble at the same time as they are fielding more requests for service. Read More…

I would increase the National Child Benefit by $2,000 per child below the poverty line, what Statistics Canada calls the low income cut-off.  This sum would be paid directly to the families and would not be clawed back from families on social assistance.  This would directly benefit 760,000 children, and of course, their parents.  The cost would be $1.8 billion per year.  What would this buy?  For these poorest of our poor children the extra $200 per month would buy an adequate diet, better living quarters, and access to sport and recreational activity. Read More…