83.14 Child Care Assistance
Whereas, It is generally accepted that both parents and children tend to benefit from full-time parental management when the children are young, providing this benefit is not offset by parental requirements for money or career development;
and,
Whereas, The increasing family need for two incomes denies the choice of full-time child care to many parents who would remain at home if they had the resources; and,
Whereas, It is recognized by Canadian society that families who produce and rear children are adding to our national resources and should be provided with some financial assistance although it is desirable to provide the greatest assistance for those families with the greatest need; and,
Whereas, The government now has many ways of recognizing a responsibility for child-rearing (e.g., family allowances, child tax credits, income tax exemptions, operation of daycare centres, etc.), some of these provide more assistance as incomes rise, some more as incomes decline, and some are available on a flat rate to specific income groups;
but none is related to the age or care needs of the children; be it,
RESOLVED, That The National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada:
- To review all the payments and tax concessions which are provided for parents of children;
- Rearrange them in order to provide the greatest possible assistance to parents wishing to stay at home with preschool children and/or children with special care needs;
- To ensure that net benefits are greatest for those family units with the lowest incomes, regressing by not disappearing as incomes rise.