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The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.

The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.

Manitoba families and children receiving income assistance will benefit from the full restoration of the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS), Family Services and Housing Minister Christine Melnick has announced. "This is another step toward improving the quality of the lives of low-income Manitobans and toward ensuring that no child be deprived of opportunity because of the debilitating effects of poverty," said Melnick. "We are pleased to be able to deliver on this important commitment." The changes, including details of improvements in basic income assistance rates, were outlined on her behalf by Doug Martindale, MLA for Burrows, at the Andrews Street Family Centre in Winnipeg. "Every child deserves the right start in life and we must continue to help people in need to achieve their full potential," said Martindale. "Today's announcement is an important step in increasing support and benefiting families throughout our province." For families with children ages 12 to 17 receiving the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS), the changes become effective January 2004 for February's benefits. The practice of "clawing back" Employment and Income Assistance payments has ended. A family with three children now has almost $3,900 more in disposable income each year to help them raise their children. In January 2003, the NCBS was restored for families with children ages 7 to 11; in July 2001, it was restored for those with children 6 and under; and in July 2000, all NCBS increases were passed on to families receiving income assistance. This final step ensures the benefit is provided to all Manitoba families that qualify. Since 2000, the changes have benefited 23,000 children in 11,000 families. The provincial government is also increasing basic income assistance rates for single people and couples with no children in the general assistance category, and for all adults enrolled in the persons with disabilities category. This will benefit 27,915 adults and increase their income assistance by $240 per year. This change builds on previous improvements to work incentives, school supply budgets for children and an exemption of certain lump sum payments for persons with disabilities to help improve their quality of life. Manitoba has also increased support to other programs and services, such as child care, that reduce child poverty and help parents find and keep jobs. Since 2000, the provincial government has increased funding for child care by over $22 million or 41.5 per cent.

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