Trudeau announces plan to ensure greater economic security for middle class families

September 21, 2015

TORONTO – A Liberal government will support economic security for middle class Canadian families, and those working hard to join them, by putting more money in the pockets of those who need it most, providing high-quality, affordable child care spaces, and offering more flexibility for working parents, said the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, today.

“Liberals understand that for most Canadians, balancing work and family responsibilities is a daily challenge. We believe that government has a responsibility to ensure that all families have a real and fair chance to succeed,” said Mr. Trudeau. “After a decade in office, it is clear that Stephen Harper is out of touch with Canadian families – with parents worried about finding decent child care that won’t break the bank, or who have to work two jobs just to make ends meet – and won’t help them in any meaningful way. It’s time for real change.”

A Liberal government will enhance the economic security of families in the following ways:

• We will create the Canada Child Benefit (CCB): one bigger, fair, tax-free, automatic monthly child benefit to put more money back in the pockets of the Canadian families who need it most.
• We will work with provinces, territories, and First Nations to create a new National Early Learning and Child Care Framework, administered as part of our investment of nearly $20 billion in social infrastructure over the next ten years. We will work collaboratively on funding agreements to create affordable, high-quality, accessible, inclusive early learning and child care spaces across the country.
• We will offer greater flexibility for parents who are providing care for their children by making parental leave more flexible to family circumstances, amending the Canada Labour Code to allow for more flexible working arrangements, and providing a more accessible and flexible Employment Insurance Compassionate Care Benefit.

“Thomas Mulcair talks about child care needing an urgent solution, yet his program is back-loaded, will be delayed for years, and is significantly underfunded. While no plan for economic security for families can exclude child care, Canadians deserve more than Mulcair’s empty promises,” said Mr. Trudeau. “With the Liberal plan, Canadians will get the help they need to strengthen their families and build better communities.”

Related product:

 Backgrounder – Real Change: Greater economic security for middle class families