Sarah Simpson and Don Descoteau/ Black Press

Martin Barker says the Conservatives believe in supporting families and giving families choices.

B次元官网网址淭his is an election to carefully consider the issues and child care is one such important issue to consider,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淐onservatives believe strong, healthy families create a strong country and ultimately leads to fewer social issues and less addiction and crime. The Conservatives believe families should have choices about their child care and that the government doesnB次元官网网址檛 need yet another layer of bureaucracy.B次元官网网址�

Barker said the Conservatives have already put more money into the pockets of parents with the introduction of an increased tax deduction for children in sports, with the Universal Child Care Benefit ($160 per month for children under six, $60 per month for children six to 17) and by raising the tax deductions for childcare, for children under six, over six, and for disabled children by an additional $1,000 per year.

B次元官网网址淚ncome splitting will benefit families with a stay-at-home parent the most,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚ncome splitting is limited to a maximum benefit of $2,000 per family. The same party that has proposed the bureaucratic daycare system has stated that they will repeal income splitting if elected.B次元官网网址�

Barker said the NDP B次元官网网址渨ill not provide choicesB次元官网网址� for families. He said the National Housing survey in 2011 showed that of those who use childcare service only 40 per cent used institutional daycare.

B次元官网网址淎 bureaucratic national daycare system as proposed by one of the other parties would pigeon-hole parents into 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daycare that will not help those with irregular jobs, stay-at-home parents or those who choose to use family members and neighbours as their childcare providers,B次元官网网址� he said.

Marxist-Leninist candidate Alastair Haythornthwaite also believes in a plan that would benefit all Canadians.

B次元官网网址淐hild care is one of the many needs of young Canadian families. Young families need access to education, meaningful employment, student debt relief, affordable housing and comprehensive health care with dental and drug coverage,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f both parents work, child care is an expensive burden, significantly reducing the money the second parent brings to the family.B次元官网网址�

He said $800 a month is an average cost for a pre-school child. B次元官网网址淚t costs even more for an infant,B次元官网网址� he said.

Of the NDPB次元官网网址檚 call to subsidize daycare and reduce costs to $15 per day, he said, B次元官网网址淭he devil is in the details. Will (that) involve subsidizing for-profit daycare providers? The only rational course is for the State to provide child care services directly to capture economies of scale. An extension of public education to include daycare will create free daycare and allow the maintenance of a high standard of care.B次元官网网址�

NDP candidate Alistair MacGregor said with twin three-year-old daughters and both he and his wife working to make ends meet, child care issues are something heB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渧ery personally aware of.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淐hild care is one of the highest costs for a family budget. ItB次元官网网址檚 time we brought those costs down,B次元官网网址� he said.

The NDP have has been criticized for the fact the $15/day plan would take about eight years to roll out.

B次元官网网址淚 think for any big new social program thereB次元官网网址檚 always going to be a bit of time to roll it out. IB次元官网网址檝e been hearing from families all over the place that this is something they would like to have,B次元官网网址� MacGregor said.

The plan makes sense both socially and economically, he said, noting the work-life conflict experienced by families with small children costs the Canadian business community about $4 billion a year. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been estimated that for every dollar that we invest in child care, our economy grows by $2. The child care program could generate an additional $3 billion for the federal government though additional revenues, because youB次元官网网址檙e allowing more parents to enter the workforce.B次元官网网址�

MacGregor said there are almost 900,000 kids across Canada in families without access to affordable child care.

B次元官网网址淭he Conservatives say theyB次元官网网址檙e giving families choice though their child benefit. That actually is not a choice. I think if people have the choice of having affordable child care there when they need it and they want to use it, thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be a great benefit.B次元官网网址�

Candidate Luke Krayenhoff, who between himself and his wife has five children, said the Liberal Party is targeting economic security for the middle class through its child care policies. B次元官网网址淲e felt the middle class really has not moved forward,B次元官网网址� he said, noting that incomes have not kept pace with inflation in recent years.

B次元官网网址淚 just know that when our kids were really young, it was a real grind financially. You had to watch your pennies and that part of life,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut if we can make that easier B次元官网网址� I think it has to become the new normal with employers and employees working together.B次元官网网址�

Among the Liberal policies affecting childcare are changes to EI parental benefits that would make it easier for employers to be more flexible on work hours and work location for employees with young children, Krayenhoff said.

B次元官网网址淭he reality is both parents have to work these days. This would give the family the option of [either] having one parent stay at home and putting the child into childcare. It leaves the decision with the family.B次元官网网址�

Many people are having children later in life or having fewer kids, because they feel itB次元官网网址檚 an economic penalty to do so, he said.

On top of that direct benefit to families, he said, the LiberalsB次元官网网址� national early learning and childcare framework would see the government work with the provinces to provide a good start for children, using evidence-based research and best practices.

Green candidate Fran Hunt-Jinnouchi knows there are a lot of young families on the West Shore of Greater Victoria, the most densely populated part of the riding. As such, she said, child care is a priority.

B次元官网网址淎s far as the Green Party is concerned, we want to restore the 2005 agreement which focused on achieving a universal national access child care program in Canada,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e also want to ensure that there is a childrenB次元官网网址檚 commissioner that would ensure childrenB次元官网网址檚 best interests are considered in future policy and co-ordinate services across the country.B次元官网网址�

Somewhat like the Liberals, the GreensB次元官网网址� policy on expanding quality childcare spaces includes offering direct tax credits for employers to allow for more flexibility for workers requiring child care.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very much about families being able to be together,B次元官网网址� Hunt-Jinnouchi said. B次元官网网址淔or example, the more workplace childcare spaces we can create, the more mothers and fathers can be easily accessible to their children [in the event of] emergencies.B次元官网网址�

She also questions the NDPB次元官网网址檚 $15/day child care, questioning the long-term affordability of such a program. She sees that as requiring a lot of buy-in and financial support from the provinces who administer such services, noting that it realistically couldnB次元官网网址檛 be put in place for five, eight or even 10 years down the road.

B次元官网网址淚 believe with our plan we would be able to see some immediate results,B次元官网网址� she said.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com