You might not know it but your statement is contradictory to itself.  The least well off cannot afford the $5500 right now so how would they afford the $10,000 a year?  It was intended by Harper to reward the well off at the expense of lost taxes that help benefit far more.   It was said 93% of Canadians would not have benefitted from the increase to $10,000.   I will not cry for those that can afford it (which would have included me).