Years ago, like 30 years ago, the government here changed the system. it used to be parents got a tiny monthly cheque for kids, like $35, and then they could claim the kids on their taxes and get a couple thousand dollars. The government of the day felt it would better serve parents to have that money in the form of a monthly payment rather than waiting until tax filing. It was a wise decision.

There was a time before I got married and when I was a single working mother of 3 boys in the early 2000s that I was getting $738 each month in Child Tax Benefit and that wasn't even the maximum back then. But I can tell you, it was sure welcome on the 20th of each month and it damn well goes a long way to alleviating child poverty and hunger. That said, other benefits have not increased, which is a problem, but on this front, Canada did a good job.

I'm terrified of the political landscape. I feel like I can already see it and it's not pretty.