Family-friendly
New childcare measures announced, as well as changes to maternity leave, strategy to prevent gender-based violence, assistance for women in poverty
The federal budget has received a passing grade from some parents in P.E.I. for its plans to spend $7 billion to address child-care costs over the next 10 years.
Last night’s budget announced a number of initiatives targeting families, including extending parental leave to an optional 18 months and creating 40,000 new subsidized daycare spaces countrywide over the next three years. Expecting mothers will also be able to collect maternity benefits 12 weeks before their due date, which was previously set at eight weeks.
It was welcome news for North Rustico’s Ashlen Smith, who is currently on maternity leave after giving birth to her third child, a daughter named Eva, this past January.
Although the initiative will stretch out 12 months of payments over another six months, Smith said it would be worth it to spend the extra time with her kids.
For parents like Smith who have more than one young child, it may also mean an extra six months of no childcare expenses.
“Which would save a huge daycare bill,” said Smith, who also has a two-and-a-half year old. “The biggest thing is you get to stay home with your baby longer. And if that financially works out, I think it’s really great.”
Glenfinnan resident Krista Gaudet, whose first child, John, was born last November, said the extended leave may also help some parents find more affordable childcare.
She pointed out that spaces for toddlers are often cheaper than those for infants younger than 18 months.
“I think it’s a great benefit,” said Gaudet, who also noted the lengthy wait times for daycare spots. “It’s really hard to get your kids accepted in time so having the extra spots is going to be nice.”
Exactly how the $7 billion will be spent is still unclear and will be subject to negotiations between the federal and provincial governments.
Apart from childcare, the budget also has a number of initiatives to attract more women into the workforce as well as $11.2 billion over 11 years for a national housing strategy. “The centrepieces in this budget are innovation, affordable housing and childcare,” said Charlottetown MP Sean Casey, “all of which has the potential for significant impacts on Prince Edward Island.”
Jillian Kilfoil, executive director of Women’s Network P.E.I., praised the budget’s initiatives at removing barriers for women hoping to lift themselves out of poverty.
She also applauded the government for applying a “genderbased analysis” to the budget.
“Having that lens applied to the budget is a great initiative and will strengthen all aspects of the budget for women,” said Kilfoil, who also praised the measure to create a strategy to prevent gender-based violence.
“It’s very aligned with the work the Women’s Network has been doing for the past 30 years and has some excellent initiatives that will support our work moving forward.”
P.E.I. finance minister Allen Roach was happy to see support for families in the budget, as well as an emphasis on jobs and social infrastructure.
“It’s good to see the priorities (the federal government) have are the same as what we have as a government,” said Roach. “It supports the plan we have in place and we’re going to continue to be prudent as we move forward.”