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  • On July 1, 2007, nearly 70,000 children and youth (19 years and under, herein referred to as children) from 50,000 families living in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories were enrolled in the Maintenance Enforcement Programs (MEPs) that monitor and enforce their child support benefits.

  • About 6% of all children living in the five jurisdictions were enrolled in a MEP. Nova Scotia had the highest proportion of children enrolled (9%) and Alberta and Yukon the lowest (5%).

  • Almost half the children enrolled were between the ages of 12 and 17.

  • The recipient of support on behalf of the children (often the parent residing with the children) was female in 97% of families.

  • The median monthly payment due in the five reporting jurisdictions was $300, and 57% of families received their support in full in an average month in 2007/2008.

  • One-third of families received their monthly child support in full every month of the year in 2007/2008. About 84% of families received some support during the year.

  • Just under two-thirds of families receiving support were owed arrears on July 1, 2007. The median amount of arrears owing was $4,210.

  • MEPs in Alberta and Yukon took enforcement actions against approximately two-thirds of all payors living in their jurisdictions in 2007/2008.

  • For nearly 10% of the children enrolled in the five MEPs, the parent paying child support lived in another jurisdiction, and their child support payments were enforced by an out-of-province (or reciprocating) MEP. For most of these children, the reciprocating MEP was in another Canadian jurisdiction.

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