Finance
May 26, 2009

The following statement was issued by the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Families Benefit from New Programs

I rise in this Honourable House today to update residents of the province on two programs our government introduced last year to assist families � the Progressive Family Growth Benefit and the Parental Support Benefit

Both programs were introduced to assist with costs associated with raising a child, particularly for parents who encounter increased costs during the first year of a child�s life.

Under the Progressive Family Growth Benefit program, parents receive $1,000 for every child born or adopted, and the Parental Support Benefit provides parents with an additional $100 per month for the first 12 months of a child�s life. Both programs are universal and not income-based.

I am pleased to notify the public that approximately 5,200 applications have been processed to date. While there is a take-up rate of approximately 87 per cent to date, I would like to encourage those who have not applied for the benefit to do so. Applications are available online through the Department of Finance website [www.fin.gov.nl.ca/fin/parentalben/] and at all Government Service Centres, obstetrical units and MCP offices.

According to Statistics Canada, after experiencing the highest quarterly population growth since 1992 during the third quarter of 2008, Newfoundland and Labrador�s population continued to increase again during the fourth quarter of 2008. Last year marked the first time in 16 years that the province recorded an increase in population and we are pleased that trend is continuing.

In addition, the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information released information in March of this year indicating that more babies were born in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2008 than in any year since 1999. A total of 4,900 babies were born in Newfoundland and Labrador last year, representing an increase of more than 300 infants from 2007.

Our government is pleased to offer both the Progressive Family Growth Benefit and the Parental Support Benefit programs. I am pleased that families are benefiting from these programs.

2009 05 26                                                 4:50 p.m.
 


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