Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the member's speech. I thank him for his kind words. I am not as comfortable with his words which perhaps attribute or ascribe the views of a couple of people to all. It is the same kind of tolerance we should demonstrate with regard to the choices of parents. I will not pit one against the other. If I disagree with someone I will make my point, but I will make it affirmatively and not because they are wrong. I take exception to the yellow part of the speech.
I have presented over 200 petitions to the House since 1993 referring to managing the family home and caring for preschool children as an honourable profession which has not been recognized for its value to society and therefore requesting that the Income Tax Act be changed to reflect equity for those who choose to provide direct parental care.
I believe all members of this place fundamentally understand that we are talking about children and we are talking about the facility of parents to make choices in the best interest of their children.
I would ask the member a question, however. The aspect of single parent families or lone parent families is not covered. There are no child care expenses if both parents work and grandma is caring for the children. There are jillion other examples where it is not fair to say to the House that it can done by fiddling with the child care expense deduction.
Would the member not agree that what is more important is that we are talking about looking at comprehensive tax reform and not just tinkering?