It's about to get even worse: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/birth-rate-trump-baby-bonus-1....
Seems about as likely to materialize as every other handout this administration has promised.
How's everyone enjoying their tariff rebate checks? Any servicemembers care to share how they spent their warrior dividend?
What's going to get worse? Currently parents get absolutely shafted by the tax system as the tax credits are next to nothing relative to the amount of time, effort, and capital it takes to raise a child.
Currently the cost of raising children is privatized while the benefits are socialized.
I wonder how many more failed tiny financial band-aids it will take before governments figure out that moving the needle on birth rate requires that deep systemic issues be addressed.
The most astute observation I've seen on the topic is that in a capitalistic system in which monetary value is assigned to everything, the value of children is deeply negative and therefore they are not desirable. By having children, most couples are putting their stability, wellbeing, and long-term prospects on the line. The opportunity cost is staggering. If more children is the desired outcome, that tradeoff must cease to exist, and a lousy $2k isn't anything remotely close to that.