THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ON THURSDAY

Liberals

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau promises to lower the government’s eligibility requirements for Canadians who need help caring for a sick loved one.

If elected, Trudeau says a Liberal government would invest $190 million to expand the compassionate-care benefit and make it accessible to any Canadian looking after a seriously ill family member. He said the expanded program wouldn’t lead to Canadians paying higher employment insurance premiums. Trudeau says under a Liberal government, the six-month benefit could also be claimed incrementally over a one-year period.

Conservatives

Stephen Harper wants to boost a tax break for parents who adopt. Speaking at an event in the riding of York-Simcoe, Harper said a re-elected Conservative government would increase the value of the Adoption Expense Tax Credit and make it fully refundable.

The credit is currently a 15-per-cent non-refundable tax break designed to reduce costs associated with adoption. Harper wants to raise the value to a maximum amount of $20,000. The Conservative leader has been trying turn up the volume on his economic message as he faces questions on the campaign trail about the ongoing criminal trial of Sen. Mike Duffy.

NDP

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair promised to create 110,000 daycare spaces in British Columbia. He said his plan will make it easier for families in a province where two out of three children don’t have access to regulated child care.

“I’ve spoken to mothers forced to choose between their career and their children,” Mulcair said Thursday during a campaign stop in the riding of Vancouver Granville. “It goes without saying that it’s women, first and foremost, that have to make that type of sacrifice.”

The New Democrats first unveiled the policy plank last fall. In details released with Thursday’s announcement, the party said more than 50,000 spots would be made available in Vancouver alone.