OTTAWA, March 30, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Two top pro-family groups have criticized the recently unveiled 2012 budget, saying that it attempts to address Canada’s long-term demographic crisis without making life easier for those raising the next generation of Canadians today.
Noting Statistics Canada reports which indicate that within the next decade there will be more Canadians over the age of 65 than those under the age of 15 for the first time in Canada’s history, the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada (IMFC) applauded the steps taken in the budget to address the unsustainable nature of some of Canada’s social programs in light of demographic decline.
“It’s good to see some light shone on the fact that Canada is not having enough kids to keep social spending as is,” said Andrea Mrozek, Manager of Research for the IMFC.
However, Mrozek points out that research indicates finances are the number one stress for families, and since Canadian families carry a heavy tax burden, substantive tax relief is necessary.
“The Government has indicated they will introduce family income splitting when the books are balanced, and according to this budget, that remains in 2015. That is not soon enough as far as Canadian families are concerned,” Mrozek said.
The IMFC argues that the budget is shortsighted for addressing the long term security of some social programs, without presenting tax relief for families today, which they say will hinder the government’s long term plan to make social programs more sustainable.
“It’s all well and good to accommodate demographic changes in the future, but if you don’t make life easier for people having kids today, you are fighting a losing battle,” said Mrozek.
Gwen Landolt, national vice president of REAL Women Canada, told LifeSiteNews that her organization sent a document to Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in anticipation of the budget in which the group insisted on not only tax relief for families, but an increase in child benefits to encourage families to have more children.
“One thing Canada needs now is more children,” Landolt said, “but parents are reluctant because of the uncertainty they face. That’s where the government should focus their efforts now.”
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