Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has shown its true colours, confirming its position that stay at home parents are second class citizens in Canada.
In response to an Alberta government proposal for tax relief for stay at home families, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance answered no, stating that the aim of the tax system is to help people work, not stay at home. What an insult. This member obviously fails to recognize the contributions made by stay at home parents, who make both personal and professional sacrifices to raise their children.
The government is continuing with the policy that parents who choose to stay at home are second class citizens and contribute nothing to society. What hypocrisy. What a total lack of understanding. What a total lack of vision.
Reformers offered the Liberals a tax deduction for stay at home parents and they turned us down. The Alberta government has just offered the Liberals a tax credit for stay at home parents and they turned it down too.
The question that begs to be asked is what, if anything, have the Liberals turned up to recognize the plight of stay at home parents?