MLAs approve doubling Nunavut Child Benefit payments
Families can expect more money starting in September, premier says
Nunavut Premier John Main says doubling the Nunavut Child Benefit will help children and families struggling with poverty and food insecurity. (File photo by Arty Sarkisian)
MLAs closed out the spring sitting of the legislature last week by approving a bill that doubles the amount of money families can receive through the Nunavut Child Benefit.
Amendments to the Income Tax Act increase the basic Nunavut Child Benefit payment from $348 annually per child to $696, Premier John Main explained during a June 11 meeting of committee of the whole.
“Poverty and lack of food is a big problem, and it really affects the small children, and it affects them in a bad way,” Main said to his colleagues.
“So even if we increase it by a little bit, it’s going to help, and we’re really happy about that. The children in Nunavut that need help [are] what it’s about.”
The GN, Main said, will spend an additional $2.3 million to cover the cost of the increase.
Families who have a net income of $22,065 or less are eligible to receive Nunavut Child Benefit payments.
Canada Revenue Agency administers the program with funding from the Government of Nunavut.
The benefit rates will adjust annually with inflation, Main said, due to amendments to the Income Tax Act that remove a three per cent consumer price index “floor.”
After receiving approval by MLAs and assent from acting Commissioner Lew Phillip, the bill is set to take effect July 1, Main said.
However, recipients won’t see that increased money reflected in their accounts until September.
“There will be retroactive payments. So the benefit will actually start accruing, or going towards families in July, but they won’t receive that first increase until September,” Main said.
Three other bills received assent on the final day of the legislative assembly, including the GN’s $2.47 billion operations and maintenance budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which started April 1.
MLAs also approved $273.9 million in additional capital spending for 2026-27 for projects and purchases across 10 GN departments.
A fourth bill, the Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, updated the language in various territorial laws.
The fall sitting is scheduled to begin Oct. 22.
This doesn’t go very far for most parents these days. It is too bad they did not expand the eligibility too. not many people who net less than $22k.
Great news for bootleggers and those that sell $20 packs of illegal rez cigs.