Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today on this International Day of Families.
As most of us know, countless Canadian parents face the daily struggle of balancing work and family life. Today approximately 70% of married Canadian mothers work outside their homes. Up to 60% of them return to work six months after the birth of their children.
Studies, as well as leading academics, have found that in the first year of their lives children benefit greatly from increased contact and stimulation by their parents. A strong relationship makes the children more creative, secure, sociable and curious individuals.
The government recognizes the critical responsibilities parents have in raising their children and understands the need to balance work and family life in the year 2000.
For these reasons the government has proposed to extend parental benefits to give parents the choice of staying at home for up to one full year. This will provide flexibility for mothers and fathers in the labour force.
Helping families to provide a supportive environment for their children is not only a worthy social goal, but increasingly a national economic imperative.