Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his kind remarks.
I do admit that I have been somewhat preoccupied in my parliamentary career with families and with children. I agree with the member that we should not be playing mathematics when we are talking about the physical, mental and social health outcomes of children and that parents are in the best position to determine this.
However, there is a contradiction here because the member does not like June and Ward Cleaver yet he is advocating choice. When I think of Leave It To Beaver and that family life, I am not so sure I have a problem with that choice about a caring and loving mother and father, about two well adjusted kids, some friends and a little bit of mischief. I am not sure there is a problem with that. But I do understand the member and I will not take him to task on it.
I want to raise with him an issue with regard to the motion itself to see if he agrees with me. I am personally having some difficulty with the motion. The motion is so very simple that it lends itself to having some problems because it cannot cover all cases.
If the member would consider the situation where two parents work in the paid labour force and grandma takes care of the kids, and no payment is made, there is no child care expense deduction. All of a sudden the mathematics that the Reform Party have thrown to us fall apart, except for the fact that a one earner family would pay a slightly higher marginal rate on the amount over $30,000 versus the two $25,000 of a low income family. If there are no child care expense deductions and the only other difference is progressivity, the only way to deal with it is to advocate a flat tax. The only way we could resolve Reform's position is by saying that it advocates a flat tax and it advocates eliminating the child care expense deduction or extending it to others.
Does the member not agree that the motion is maybe a little too simplistic and maybe it is a little difficult to suggest to anybody that it is a solution to anything?