Evidence of meeting #43 for Finance in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was research.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Thank you very much, and thank you to all our witnesses.
The first question is to Ms. McInturff, and that is on the issue of early learning and child care. Does $100 a month pre-tax provide real choice to Canadian women and families?
Executive Director, Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action
No.
November 2nd, 2010 / 11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
In terms of investments in women being good investments in the general economy, I think you made a very compelling case in terms of your own education and that we, collectively as a society and as an economy, benefit from that important investment.
There was an article a couple of years ago in The Economist magazine called “A Guide to Womenomics”, and it actually identified what kinds of progressive policies around the world have made a real difference in terms of strengthening productivity, from 50% of the workforce in this case, and I'd recommend it to you. You probably are already familiar with it, but it's a very strong economic argument for these investments.
In terms of family care, you talked about the sandwich generation, where you have families looking after children and at the same time ailing or aging relatives. We've proposed a caregiver tax benefit modelled after the child tax benefit for caregivers, as well as extending the current EI caregiver benefit from six weeks to six months to provide an opportunity.... It's not just for women either, but disproportionately a lot of this responsibility seems to fall on women in households.
Would that help for the sandwich generation?
Executive Director, Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action
Professor Lahey is the tax expert, so I'll defer it to her.
But first I would just say that I think any effort to try to alleviate the double burden of care that many women of that sandwich generation are facing is welcome. Delivering that relief through tax policy tends not to benefit women as much as it benefits men, for reasons that I know Kathy can explain.
Prof. Kathleen Lahey
If I may, just to clarify, if it were posed as a fully refundable tax credit, that would be immensely better because it would be very difficult for a woman with her average female income to both earn enough money to support herself and whoever is in her household and spend time doing unpaid care work. Therefore, more than likely, that scenario focuses on individuals who are in single-income couples, and the woman herself would only realize the benefit of a tax credit if her husband or her partner had enough income to cash it out.
Therefore, it really would have to be a refundable credit, and at that point jurisdictional issues become problematic. Direct payments would be best, but if that couldn't be worked out with the provinces, then a refundable credit would be a major step down the road.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Thank you.
On the EI reform enabling someone who's taking care of an elderly sick relative or perhaps a spouse or perhaps a sick child, to go from currently six weeks to six months with some benefits, and thus enabling them to return to the workforce, how would that help?
Prof. Kathleen Lahey
That would have the same sorts of deficiencies. If someone were already in the EI system, it would be, no doubt, a wonderful thing for them to have. But at the same time, we're talking about a demographic group that is itself very vulnerable to being moved out of the EI benefit range. So that I think is something that would have to be adjusted at the same time, if possible.
Liberal
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Sure.
In terms of the accelerated capital cost allowance for innovation and productivity enhancement and energy efficiency and competitiveness in a global carbon-constrained economy, that's something I think we all agree on notionally, but which is more valuable to make these kinds of investments: an accelerated capital cost allowance focused on that or just a general corporate tax cut?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada
Are you addressing that to me?
President and Chief Executive Officer, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada
Okay. I think you've got to look at them as two different things.
The corporate tax reductions, which business has already assumed are going to happen, have allowed us to stay in business as China and the Middle East emerged. It's a very different globally competitive environment we work in. The accelerated capital cost helps you achieve major capital investments.
President and Chief Executive Officer, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada
They're both very valuable, and if we don't get them both, we probably won't--
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you.
We're well over time, Mr. Brison, unfortunately.
Thank you for your presentations and your answers to our questions.
If you have anything further you wish the committee to consider, we will be considering recommendations after the break week. Please submit your comments to the clerk. I will ensure all members get them. I want to thank you all for being here this morning.
Colleagues, just very briefly, please take a look at the projected calendar and the witness list for Bill C-470. If you have any additional witnesses you wish the committee to consider, we can certainly do so, but perhaps tomorrow we'll just briefly discuss the witness list. I would like you to have a look at the list and perhaps prioritize from each of your points of view.
I see the roll of the eyes of Mr. Mulcair. That means he agrees with me.
Thank you.
Monsieur Carrier.
Bloc
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Sooner rather than later. I would prefer tomorrow.
Is it possible to get it tomorrow?
