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EXCERPTS
The Conservative government is actively encouraging parents not to spend their new child-care allowance on child care.
The Universal Child Care Benefit, touted as direct financial help for parents to support ''child-care choices,'' provides parents a monthly cheque of $100 per child under the age of six. ''The Universal Child Care Benefit puts the choice of child care where it belongs in the hands of parents,'' government promotional literatures says.
But the same promotional material goes on to suggest spending the cash on a Registered Education Savings Plan to help pay for college or university when their child grows up. ''Parents may even wish to deposit all or part of their benefit into (an RESP).''
The revelation puts the Tories in an awkward spot, since they successfully attacked the Liberals on the child-care issue during the 2006 federal election after top Liberal spinner Scott Reid quipped that parents could spend the allowance on things other than child care, including beer and popcorn.
Another top strategist, emphasizing there were no strings attached to the cash, added cars and coats to the list. Pundits attributed this gaffe as a key factor to the Liberal loss. '''Pop' goes the campaign,'' wrote one.
Bonnie Brown, child-care critic for the Liberals and MP for the Ontario riding of Oakville, said the promotional material unmasks the ''misrepresentation that went on during the election.''
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Colleen Cameron, spokeswoman for Human Resources Minister Diane Finley, dismissed the complaints. She said the child-care allowance ''has always been about lending support to your child.''
''Saving for your child's education is one example of lending support to your child. It's a means of caring for that child.''
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- reprinted from the CanWest News Service