Over half the children from low-income families lived with a single parent 9 .
Poverty is less present in families with full-time jobs.
This is why the government has chosen to fight against it not only through providing financial support to the poorest families but also in the field of employment by offering parents conditions making it easier to balance family and job responsibilities. The purpose of financial support provided to families receiving last resort assistance and to families of low-income workers is to encourage them to get back into the job market or to stay in it. The government provides financial support to families through the family benefit system, a number of tax measures and various financial assistance programs 11 . The family allowance is paid until the child turns 18. It has replaced Quebec's old system of the family allowance, allowance for young children and allowance for newborn children, as well as the portion of last resort assistance paid for children.