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Family allowances in the Canadian Arctic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

Extract

Family allowances for all Canadian children under 16 years of age were instituted in 1944. The amount per child varies from $5.00 to $8.00 per month, according to the age of the child and the number of children in the family. In the well-settled parts of the Dominion, the allowances are paid by cheque each month to the mother of the family. In isolated areas, such as the Arctic, the allowances are paid “in kind”; in other words, the family are allowed to purchase goods from their usual trader up to the amount to which they are entitled. In the Canadian Eastern Arctic nearly all trading posts are maintained by the Hudson's Bay Company. In order to report the number of Eskimo children in the families, registrars and sub-registrars are appointed in the various areas. In localities where detachments of Royal Canadian Mounted Police are posted, a police officer acts as the registrar. In other localities the trader or traders act as sub-registrars. The Eskimo families notify one or other of these officials as soon as possible after a new baby is born, that is, when they next visit the trading post or settlement.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1952

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References

page 345 note 2 The figures quoted are for the period 1936–40. The last complete Eskimo census was taken in 1941, but when the present census is complete it will be possible to follow this population more accurately. It is believed that numbers are increasing slowly.

page 346 note 1 Although the allowances do not specifically apply to expectant mothers, they are allowed wherever possible to buy extra supplies of the best types of foods listed above.

page 347 note 1 The book of wisdom for Eskimo. Department of Mines and Resources, Ottawa, 1947.Google Scholar