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REAL WOMEN MAKES PRESENTATION TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Every fall the House of Commons Standing Sub-committee
on Finance holds pre-budget hearings to give organizations
and individuals the opportunity to express their concerns,
with the view that they may affect the preparation of the
federal budget. However, these hearings are a public charade,
as the government goes ahead with its own budget, unconcerned
by any input from these public hearings.
REAL Women wondered, therefore, if it was
worth the time and effort to prepare a brief to appear before
this Parliamentary Committee - especially so, since antagonism
is often shown to REAL Women of Canada by this biased parliamentary
committee. However, we know it is crucial for us to continue
to be a voice for reason and fairness on behalf of Canadian
families. We have never and we will never cave in to intimidation.
Thus, we decided to speak out for family friendly legislation
and social policies at this Committee hearing.
We appeared therefore, before the Finance
Committee when it held its session in Saskatoon on October
12, 2005. Cecilia Forsyth, REAL Women's Western Vice-President,
made the presentation to the Committee on REAL Women's behalf.
There were a total of five different groups, including REAL
Women, making presentations at this hearing. Each person had
seven minutes to present recommendations to the Committee.
The Committee in Saskatoon consisted of two Liberal MPs, two
Conservatives, one Bloc and one NDP. Following the presentations,
each Member of Parliament questioned or commented on the briefs.
Whether it was by chance or by design (probably
the latter!), the Liberals, Bloc and NDP completely ignored
REAL Women's presentation. They simply did not want to hear
views that are opposed to their policies. Although these parties
claim they are tolerant - believe us, they are only tolerant
of those groups that support their policies! One Conservative
MP did comment, however, on our recommendations to end tax
discrimination against the single-income family and to provide
a child care tax credit to all families saying "we would
one day prevail". This was likely a reference to the
policies of the Conservative Party on these two issues which
are similar to those of REAL Women.
Summary of REAL Women's Brief
Since our inception in 1983, REAL Women of
Canada has constantly stated that government policies should
remain neutral on the issue of career choice for women including
the option of remaining at home as full-time homemakers. Our
brief called on government to implement the following recommendations
in order to achieve a balanced and equitable tax system:
1. End Tax Discrimination Against the Single-Income
Family
In 2003 an average single-income family earning
$80,000 paid $2,743 more in federal income tax than a double-income
family with the same household income. Revenue Canada allows
double-income families tax breaks and deductions that are
not available to single-income families. This Inequity between
single and dual income families can be eliminated by allowing
the single income family to split the family income to file
separate income tax returns or by allowing joint tax filing.
The government already recognizes the family
unit when paying out benefits, such as the GST credit, the
Canada Pension Plan (CPP), and Old Age Security. It is not
a new concept. Recognizing the family unit rather than the
individual for tax purposes is the fairest way to achieve
equality for families
2. Convert CCED into a Refundable Child Tax Credit for
All Children
The Child Care Expense Deduction program ($7,000
per year for children under 7 and $4,000 for children 7-16
years of age) is only available to parents with children in
commercial substitute day care. It is based on the false assumption
that parent-based child care has no expenses. All forms of
child care have associated expenses. Child care costs exist
because children exist, not because both parents work outside
the home.
A refundable child tax credit, available
to all families, would recognize and equally compensate the
contributions of all parents, whatever child care method they
choose. Public policy should equally assist and not discriminate
against parents if they choose to care for their own children
in the home environment. All children are of equal value,
and their care should be so treated in law.
3. Make the Spousal Deduction Equal to
an Increased Personal Exemption
The spousal exemption discriminates against
the full-time homemaker as it is less than the basic personal
exemption (BPE), which is one of the lowest in the industrialized
world. In the interests of tax fairness, the spousal deduction
should be equal to the basic personal exemption, and both
should be substantially increased to reflect today's cost
of living.
4. Provide Tax Relief for all Families
Taxes are the largest expenditure in the family
budget. Excessive government surpluses in recent years clearly
indicate over-taxation. Government must stop exploiting families
by taxing them so heavily that they have little discretionary
income, thereby forcing both parents into the paid workforce
A comprehensive tax-relief plan would benefit
all Canadians. It would assist families to meet their financial
needs, reduce child poverty, and stimulate the economy. Leaving
earned income in the hands of the taxpayer is genuine government
investment in the economy of the nation.
5. Government Funding of Day Care Must Go Directly
To Parents Not To Commercial Day Care Facilities
The Liberal government's National Child Care
Plan for universal, publicly funded child care (now called
early childhood education and development) does not meet the
needs of Canadian families. It denies parents a choice of
child care alternatives by restricting government subsidies
to regulated day care facilities to the detriment of every
other type of child care arrangement. Furthermore, this one-size-fits-all
scheme will inevitably increase taxation, which will result
in more and more women having to enter the paid workforce
for the family to survive financially.
It is essential that child care legislation
support a flexible system so that child care can fit the different
needs of Canadian families. Parents should decide whether
the child should be cared for at home by a parent or other
family member, in private day care, in community, religious,
or ethnic-based care, or in a government operated child care
centre. A decision about child care is a decision for the
parents; it is not a decision for government.
A government operated child care facility
is one of many child care choices available to parents. It
should not be the only option of a national child care plan.
Other options must be made available to parents by paying
child care funds directly to parents to allow them to choose
the type of child care most suitable to their family's needs.
Equal child tax credits should be paid to parents, regardless
of which type of care they choose, whether home care or substitute
care.
6. End Funding of Special Interest Groups
Each year the federal government gives grants
and contributions estimated at $11 billion annually to numerous
special interest groups, including businesses, labour unions,
sport and lobby groups, such as day care advocacy groups,
and radical feminist organizations.
For example, the federal Status of Women agency
gave away $10,840,000.00 in grants to feminists groups in
2004 - 2005. Altogether 161 feminist groups received government
funding that fiscal year.
Government funding of feminist women's groups
is unacceptable and must stop. Women are not all the same.
We are individuals, extremely different in our needs and interests.
No single group or ideology can represent the views of all
Canadian women.
The federal government should end all special
interest funding in order to provide a level playing field
for all groups, to avoid government initiated discrimination,
and to decrease unnecessary government spending.
Conclusion
The future of our country depends on the strength
of our families. The family, which is the foundation of a
nation, should be central to the formation of all public policy.
Government decisions, especially tax and social policy, must
be fair and equally beneficial to all Canadians.
REAL Women will continue to make this point time and time
again, whether the MPs want to hear it or not!
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