Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to speak to Motion No. M-486.
Family issues are very important to me as a husband, a father and a grandfather and they are important to my constituents.
I find it very encouraging that the quality of family life is finally receiving attention by this House. For too many years the family has been ignored in the mad rush to be politically correct. It is time the inequalities faced by stay at home parents by our current tax laws were being addressed. As I have said before in the House, as the family goes, so goes society.
I acknowledge this motion may be a step in the right direction, however I am concerned with this motion which I will read for the benefit of those who may not have heard it:
That, in the opinion of this House, the government should legislate to grant a salary to mothers and fathers who stay at home to care for their children.
I am concerned this motion does not fully address the unfairness inherent in our tax code. The current Income Tax Act is discriminatory, plain and simple. It discriminates against loving parents who forgo the riches of a second income in order to provide parental care for their children.
I will illustrate with the example of two families living side by side. Family A has a single income of $60,000 and mom cares for the children at home. Family B has a combined income of $60,000 and daycare provides for the children. In spite of living side by side, family A has an after tax income of $3,365 less than that of family B. Why is there a difference? Because this government discriminates against families.
The Reform Party has a long history of representing the family. We are committed to fair family taxation. We have consistently called for revision of federal income tax regulations to end discrimination against parents who provide child care at home. We support equitable tax treatment for one income families with dependent children. Family taxation should be simple, flexible and efficient.
Reform would replace the child care expense deduction with a fully refundable child care expense credit. This is a much better method to address inequities in the tax structure. Paying parents a small stipend to stay at home with their children only encourages further government dependency in addition to creating another layer of inefficient bureaucracy. A child care expense credit would give parents the freedom to choose how to care for their children.
We recognize the most important caregiver for a child is its parent. Study after study show how important parental care is to the long term emotional stability of children. It is no coincidence that as we see the number of dual income families rise, we see youth crime skyrocket. Strong families are the foundation of our society and preventing crime starts with a commitment by the government to support our families.
The Canadian public is squarely behind me and my party on this issue. In a recent Southam News Compas poll, 82% stated that the government should make changing tax laws to allow one parent to stay home a priority. Eighty-one per cent of respondents indicated they want the government to make families the cornerstone of a wide range of policies. When working mothers were asked if they would rather stay home with their children or go to work, a majority said that they would rather stay home but felt they could not afford it. Why? Because of the oppressive taxes levied by this government.
There are elements in the Liberal caucus that do not agree with what I have to say next. Seventy per cent of Canadians feel that the needs of children receive too little attention in divorce courts. Sixty-two per cent feel that the needs of fathers are being ignored.
I have spoken with many fathers who have never seen their children after they got divorced. There are groups in this country supported by grants from this government that feel divorced fathers should have input into raising their children. I cannot imagine anything more heartbreaking than not being able to raise your own children.
The Reform Party supports the right of fathers to play an equal part in the upbringing of their children. There are members in the Liberal caucus who also support these efforts and I wish them all the best in their endeavours.
The people have spoken. Canadians want their government to ease pressure on working parents and to focus more policy on helping families. This government needs to realize the people of Canada elected it and it is time for the government to sit up and listen.