Child care: Give money to parents, not systems

(Ottawa) - Five years ago, the choice before Canadians with regards to child care lay between national daycare, focused only on creating institutional daycare, versus giving parents financial resources to make the best decision for their children. Canadians chose the money in their pockets, in the form of a $100 benefit per child under six. “The Institute of Marriage and Family Canada (IMFC) stands in favour of empowering parents, by allowing them to keep more of their own hard earned money,” stated Andrea Mrozek, Manager of Research.

A 2006 poll, conducted by GPC Research, now Fleishman-Hillard Canada, showed that when given the choice, 78% of parents say they would prefer to have a parent stay home with their children, rather than use institutional care. “Parents are up to the task of parenting, when given the financial opportunity,” said Mrozek.

The same poll further showed that if a parent staying home were not an option, then institutional daycare ranked last as a childcare choice, after relatives or a family daycare. “This runs contrary to the direction some provinces are moving, toward daycare done in the schools. That is institutional care, something parents say they don’t prefer,” continued Mrozek.

Families face significant financial challenges, and a $100 benefit for children under six is not enough. The introduction of family taxation, also known as income splitting would help families immensely. However, the very high cost of a national daycare system would further tax families. Money in parents’ pockets is a step in a better direction.

For additional information or comment, please contact Andrea Mrozek at 613-565-3832