REAL Women of Canada is concerned about women and the care and well-being of the family.  We believe the ideal situation, even in a changing world, is that every family, who so chooses, would be able to look after their children in their own home.  This means that women should have a genuine choice, financially and socially, to remain at home as full-time mothers, if they so choose, especially when their children are young.

      In our policy on tax reform, we have proposed specific changes to the tax base to offer this choice to women.  A full-time mother makes a magnificent contribution to society and this must be recognized and acknowledged by society, both socially and financially.

      We do not support the premise that women who stay at home to raise their children are not being fulfilled.  On the contrary, for those women who choose this career choice, being a full-time mother is a long-term investment in the well-being of their children and in the future stability of the next generation.  A full time mother makes a significant contribution to society by contributing psychologically and emotionally to the well-being of her children and also economically in that her full-time care of the child negates the need and costs of outside day care services.

     REAL Women of Canada recognizes that today, because of economic necessity and social pressures, paid child care is often an essential and invaluable service.  Therefore, we propose that, whenever and wherever parents require paid child care, it be of the highest possible quality.  We believe that it should be the parents' right to choose the kind and location of child care that best accommodates their family value system and the particular needs of their child, whether it is government subsidized or not.  Furthermore, for many women it is a challenging, creative and rewarding career.

     REAL WOMEN OF CANADA  does not support the concept of universally available, government subsidized day care.  Universal day care is an imposed government plan of institutional care for children.  Studies show that for young children, the family setting is usually preferable.

     We do not believe that it is a 'fundamental right' for all women, regardless of circumstances, to have universal day care, but rather day care should be available according to need.

     We believe, therefore, that child care funds should be paid directly to the parents to allow them to choose the kind of care of their children, whether home, private or institutional care.  Equal child care tax credits should be paid to parents regardless of which type of care they choose -- whether home care or substitute care.

     Child care funds should provide for a flexible system.  A flexible plan should, however, reject a policy of so-called 'national standards' which would result in the elimination of private arrangements such as family members, church based or neighbourhood arrangements which may be preferable for some families.  Government funded satellite child care should be made available to provide supervision, and learning facilities (toys, equipment, books) to small neighbourhood arrangements.   Neighbourhood drop-in centres could be available to provide after school supervision and activities, or to accommodate parents on shift work.  It could also serve as a resource centre to provide educational and social support for families.