Honourable senators, I rise today to salute the Liberal government for their efforts to reduce child poverty and, in particular, their introduction of the best social program in a decade — the Canada Child Benefit. This program has proven to be fiscally responsible and fiscally sustainable, and has delivered positive change in our country.

It has been proven that targeted social policy can have a very positive benefit in improving the lives of Canadians. One only needs to look at the tremendous reduction in seniors’ poverty in Canada over the last number of decades. Combined, the Canada Pension Plan, the Old Age Security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement have reduced seniors’ poverty in Canada from 29% of seniors in 1976 to 3.9% in 2019.

Now those same efforts are being applied to child poverty. Since its introduction in 2016, the Canada Child Benefit has provided families in my home province of Prince Edward Island with over $100 million per year in tax-free benefits, for a four-year total of over half a billion dollars in tax-free assistance. This has benefited over 26,000 Island children in over 15,000 families. Imagine how that money has improved life for those children and their families.

The results nationally have been no less impressive. Statistics Canada reported that in only the first full year the benefit was in effect, some 278,000 fewer children were found to be living in poverty.

Such programs balance fiscal responsibility with meaningful, lasting support for Canadian children and their families. They highlight the important role the Government of Canada can play in improving the lives of Canadians.