Our members at National Council have criticized the present child benefit for just the reasons you've spoken about--because it is unfair in its application and it can be claimed as a benefit by a spouse who is doing full-time child care in the home and is not obliged to be working in the paid workforce. We believe that a program that is at least partially, if not completely, funded out of the taxpayers' dollars and is to the benefit of all the children in the country is the way to go.
We cite the example here in Quebec. All of our members in other provinces envy women in Quebec. There is as a result a minor baby boom in Quebec, because we are providing more adequate care here. It's a matter of choice, and a government that is implementing the desires of women, who are mostly the caregivers where children are concerned.
But we believe we need a comprehensive program with standards and with an early-learning component in it so that we overcome difficulties.