Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak briefly to the motion. I want to make sure that I leave the appropriate amount of time for the hon. member who moved the motion. I would appreciate if you would give me a signal to ensure I do that.
The motion is very important. I think many members of the House have not fully recognized how important it is. It is important because Canadians have had a long history of respecting the role of the family in Canadian society. They are concerned historically about the separation of state and family.
I refer to the Canadian bill of rights which in its preamble clearly states:
The Parliament of Canada, affirming that the Canadian Nation is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God, the dignity and worth of human person and the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions;
Entrenched in our bill of rights was a recognition by the founders of our nation that the family had a unique and special place in our country. In the same way Reformers who are Canadians and have shaped our policy are also concerned. That is why in our party documents we have a statement that says:
The Reform Party affirms the duty of parents to raise their children responsibly according to their own conscience and beliefs, and further affirms that no person, government, or agency has a right to interfere in the exercise of that duty, as long as the actions of the parents do not constitute abuse or neglect.
Our concern is that there seems to have been an erosion of the respect for the role of family in the Canadian mosaic and in our laws. I refer to the preamble that is now in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which superseded the bill of rights as we all know. That preamble states:
Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law:
There is no reference to the family. It has been taken out, an omission which although may seem insignificant to some is having impacts in Canada.
The parent-child bond is so critical to the long term health of our nation and starts first in the physical sense. Actually it is even before children are born. They are saying now in some studies that the child in the womb can recognize the mother's voice and certain movements. I know in my own case I have twin daughters, one is very active and one is a little more sedate. We knew the one that was very active even in the womb. She was so active and she is still the same today.
A nursing mother has a closeness with her children and passes on certain antibiotics. My point here is that the physical needs of the children are met by the parents. There are new studies showing the importance of physical contact with parents. Children develop trust as their needs are met and they are put in a stable environment.
Also there are studies showing—I saw one over 10 years ago—the negative impacts of changing caregivers, what that does to children and the long term effects of psychosis which can come from it. It is so common, as we see in many day care centres today. It is from our parents and our families that we actually get our identity; he looks like Uncle Joe or she looks like Aunt Mary.
There are sacrifices for sure in raising children, but in anything worthwhile there are big rewards. Seeing one's child go from the womb to adulthood is a special investment that reaps great rewards for parents.
No one is in a better position to do this than parents. No well intentioned state or social agency will ever be able to usurp the role of the parent. That is why our forefathers were sure to entrench that in our bill of rights and in our legislation.
It is also important to see that parents have a hand in shaping the mental capabilities of children. There is a new study out that I read recently which indicates that the cognitive and mental development of a child from age zero to three is critical. If they are not properly stimulated in the right environment with their parents and are left alone, for example, as was referred to in some tragic cases, certain parts of the brain do not develop. Even as they get older, after the age of three, they cannot recoup that loss.
This is such a critical time and only a parent who loves the children can provide what is needed for the long term best interest of children.
Within families we teach children how to get along. We teach within families how to share, how to be considerate of others, how to give up our own personal desires and learn how to control our emotions and gain self-control. Sometimes we do not always get our own way. For the good of the family we may have to back away from something. In this day and age when everyone is clamouring for rights, the family is one institution where we need to learn that we do not always get our own way for the best of the family. Respect for authority is birthed in the family.
I quote how important the parent-child bond is by referring to a comprehensive study done in 1996 by the Foundation of Family Research and Education. It stated that in the area of children's emotional bonding with parents regular non-parental care increased the risk of children developing insecure bonds by 66%. It also stated that the results from this work and others conducted since demonstrated that insecure bonding to parents in childhood was a direct cause of clinical levels of emotional and behavioural problems in adolescents, including youth crime. It indicated that it was clear the family was the primary arena of influence in the development of children and adolescents.
When we look at some of the challenges we have with our youth today, it just underlines the need to ensure that the autonomy of the family is protected. We go beyond just protecting it to supporting, strengthening and encouraging the family for the long term health of the country. I applaud the member for bringing forward a motion like this one that is designed with that intent in mind.
I want to move to one additional area briefly, the loving concern that parents have for their children. They want things to go all right for them. They want them to have a happy and good life. We all know this. Parents are in the first and best position to pass on the core foundational values that will carry children through their lives. These values the parents have themselves. They have tried them in the crucible of life, things that they were taught and have tested as they have gone through life. When parents look back, as I do, there are some things they wish they had not done. I have learned some lessons. My concern is that I impart to my children the very best lessons I have learned for their best interests.
No state or social institution can do that with the same love and concern that a parent has for a child. I applaud grandparents in this respect as well. Much can be gained from grandparents.
Parents establish a foundation in their children. The children test the foundation and may change it and develop their own when they are adults. However, the best person to impart that foundation is the parent. No system, no government or no agency should interfere in this work.
There are families that have troubles and problems, and some of them are tragic. The pressures families face today are enormous in this technological age. In our enthusiasm sometimes we look for a quick fix and we think we know better. However, we should always be cautious of a bureaucracy eager to expand, where government will fix everything. That is a medicine that is worse than what is being treated.
If we really want to help Canadian children we must respect the special relationship between parents and their children just as our forefathers did in shaping of the bill of rights. Governments and bureaucratic social agencies do not serve families by coming between the parent and their children. If anything, their focus should also be to support, encourage and strengthen healthy family relationships rather than interfere with them. Let us help parents, not replace them.