NDP promises to boost child support
September 28, 2008
CBC News

A New Democratic Party government will expand child support up to $400 per child a month, Leader Jack Layton said Sunday.

"This benefit, modelled on the existing Canada Child Tax Benefit, will expand in phases to $5,000 a year per child, and consolidate the current piecemeal system of benefits and tax credits for children into a single, better, non-taxable monthly cheque to parents," Layton said.

The benefit will cost the government $4.4 billion by the fourth year of the new program, the single most expensive item in the NDP's spending plans….

He also said his party would create 220,000 new child-care spaces by the fourth year of its government.

The NDP will finance spending promises by rolling back cuts to corporate taxes. "We'll restore a uniform 22.12 per cent tax rate — what it was before the [Liberal Paul] Martin and [Conservative Stephen] Harper governments began these giveaways," according to the platform document.

That would give the government $40 billion more revenue over four years, which would be re-allocated to the NDP's spending priorities. The party would not run a deficit, the policy document states.

"We're making it clear with this platform today that our priorities are those of the kitchen table, not just the boardroom table," Layton said….