The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Tom Marshall, Minister of Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board:

Approximately 27,000 Applications Processed Through Parental Benefits Program

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to provide an update on the Parental Benefits Program, a universal program that our government created to assist families regardless of their income or status. Since the inception of the program in 2008, approximately 27,000 applications have been processed, providing support to families throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Parental Benefits Program was introduced in 2008 as a way to support families and includes the Progressive Family Growth Benefit and the Parental Support Benefit. The Progressive Family Growth Benefit provides $1,000 for every child born or adopted and the Parental Support Benefit provides $100 per month to parents for the first 12 months for each child born or adopted.

From 2008 to November of this year, 26,913 applications have been processed through the program, with an average of 4,500 applications processed each year. The deadline for filing an application is three years after the baby is born, or in the case of adoption, three years after the child has been placed with the parent. Approximately $10 million is invested in the program annually.

Mr. Speaker, our government is focused on supporting individuals and families throughout the province and this program is one of the many ways we are doing that. Since 2007 our government has decreased taxes by over $500 million annually, creating a competitive tax regime and allowing more money to go back into the pockets of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

Our government has increased the number of regulated child care spaces by almost 70 per cent since 2003. We continue to have the best pupil-teacher ratio of any province in Canada. We continue to provide free textbooks to all K-12 public school students, and our post-secondary education students continue to have the lowest average tuition fees in the country.

Mr. Speaker, our vision for a prosperous Newfoundland and Labrador is demonstrated in our commitment and investments in important social programs, strengthened communities, and the health and well-being of our children, families and seniors.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2013 12 04                                     2:20 p.m.