News release

Revenue Canada issues December Canada Child Tax Benefit payments early

Ottawa, December 8, 1998....National Revenue Minister Herb Dhaliwal, M.P. (Vancouver South - Burnaby), is pleased to announce that Revenue Canada will issue Canada Child Tax Benefit payments for December one week earlier than usual. Parents should receive their payments by December 11 instead of December 18.

"This is a demanding time of year for many Canadian families," Mr. Dhaliwal said. "The early payments will help ease the financial burden felt by many at this time of year."

The Canada Child Tax Benefit is a tax-free monthly payment to help with the cost of raising children under the age of 18. The Department will issue payments to close to 2.9 million people across Canada this month, for amounts totalling more than $481 million. The early payment applies to both clients who receive cheques and those who receive their benefits through direct deposit.

Payments for the following provincial and territorial child benefit programs administered by Revenue Canada will also be issued early:

• the BC Family Bonus;
• the New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit;
• the Saskatchewan Child Benefit;
• the Northwest Territories Child Benefit; and
• the Nova Scotia Child Benefit.

Entitlements under these programs are combined each month with the Canada Child Tax Benefit into a single payment.

People with questions about their benefit payments can contact Revenue Canada's Canada Child Tax Benefit enquiry service at the following numbers:

Calgary (403) 261-1900 (English)

London (519) 645-4560 (English)

Montréal (514) 283-8577 (Bilingual)

Ottawa (613) 941-9300 (English)

Ottawa (613) 941-9301 (French)

Regina (306) 780-8047(English)

St. John's (709) 772-2996 (English)

St. John's (709) 772-5900 (French)

Vancouver (604) 669-7815 (English)

Winnipeg (204) 984-5700 (English)

Toronto (416) 952-2600 (English)