Mr. Speaker, it is budget day 1999.
For more than 12 years parents have called for fair treatment. Treat parents equitably and stop rewarding just institutional daycare choices, leaving parents who choose other options out in the cold. Thousands of families were represented on Parliament Hill during the prebudget debate by the newly formed Family Tax Coalition.
These families carried the message one more time but louder than ever before. They called out again to give an equitable, refundable tax credit to all parents and let them determine the arrangements which best meet the needs of their families. The Reform Party agrees.
The Liberals continue to tell parents that parental or extended family care has no value. This is wrong. Canadian families, through the Family Tax Coalition, are tired of being ignored. This time the government must respond or it will pay the price.