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Leaving aside the politics of whether you agree with the expansion of the universal child care benefit, it’s difficult to believe many Canadians will be sending the money back to Ottawa, even if they don’t support the current Tory regime.

As for the payouts, the benefit was increased to $160 per month for each child under the age of 6. It was also expanded to children 6-17, and parents who have kids that age will receive a benefit of $60 per month for each child. It’s retroactive to Jan. 1, and as a parent of two children in that 6-17 group I will soon be attacking that mailbox with vigour looking for $840.

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That doesn’t mean that the implication of government as benevolent Uncle Pennybags isn’t there (hurray! income tax refund — collect $20), it’s just that it’s rare for a government to actually put on a top hat when it hands out its bills. And yet, there’s Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre playing Uncle Pennybags — or perhaps Santa Claus is more appropriate — announcing that “Christmas” would be coming to Canadians in July with the rollout of new Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB).

“One more sleep until Christmas in July for Moms and Dads!” Pierre Noel tweeted Sunday evening, adding: “If you got your child care money, please let us know by posting on twitter! Want to make sure it arrived!”

This was an admirable attempt at rousing the holiday spirit, though I’m quite certain the real Father Christmas isn’t in the business of re-gifting portions of the present you gave him last year. As of Monday, parents of children five and under will now receive $160 per month, up from $100, along with a lump sum for retroactive UCCB payments dating back to January 1. Parents of children aged six to 17 will also get $60 per month, up from $0, thanks to Pierre Noel. And rest assured, all of that money is coming directly from the North Pole.