Mr. Speaker, two recent reports add to the growing body of evidence concerning the economic and social pressures facing many Canadians.
A report at Industry Canada entitled “Keeping up with the Joneses” indicates that real personal income per capita is almost 25% lower in Canada than in the United States.
A second report issued by the Vanier Institute of the Family indicates that the average Canadian family needs 77 weeks worth of work, that is two wage earners, just to cover basic annual expenses.
The increasing competitiveness of the workplace often demanding overtime and the rigidity of employers regarding family commitments come at the same time as growing expectations that the parents be more involved in their children's activities and their education.
In a society where we are expressing concern for family integrity surely there is a role for government—