The first payments of the new Canada Child Benefit went out on July 20, 2016, in a program designed with hopes to both reduce the number of children in Canada under the poverty line and provide a stimulus to the Canadian economy.

The Provincial Office for the Early Years released an update of their 2013 BC Early Years in May 2016. Click here to read details.

Some of your participants may not yet have had an opportunity to complete their census, and it is important for them to know that it’s not too late to complete their census questionnaire. Find out how you can support your participants, particularly ESL participants and those who may not have computer access.

Click here to learn more about the upcoming 2016 Census and how you can advertise job opportunities in your community.

The Canadian 2016 Census is taking place in May. Statistics Canada will be hiring approximately 35,000 people across the country, around 5,000 in BC alone, to assist in the collection of the census. For more information about job opportunities and information to familiarize your participants with the 2016 Census, including Education Kits, click here.

In the 2015 BC Child Poverty Report Card released in November, First Call highlights the continuing high child poverty rates in BC and the lack of a strategic plan to address poverty reduction in the province.

The Prime Minister’s office have made public the Ministerial Mandate Letters sent to the new cabinet outlining the government’s priorities—here are the ministerial mandates with particular relevance for agencies working with families with children at risk aged 0-6.