Parenting Times asked each of the four major party leaders questions about the hot election issues, their platforms, and family lives. Here are their answers.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper visits a textiles store in Scarborough, Ontario August, 10, 2015.
Stephen Harper
Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
What are some of the hot topics for families in this election? And why should Canadian families vote for your party?
First, the economy. Outside of the oil and gas sector, which is being hit by forces beyond our control that have driven oil prices lower, our economy continues to grow and jobs continue to be created. That is why Canada needs proven leadership today that knows how to keep our economy strong. I am proud of how we emerged from the global economic crisis in 2009, with a strong job creation record – the best in the G7, and proud of the principled decisions we took to return to a balanced federal budget.
Second, lower taxes and benefits. Conservatives recognize that family budgets are tight. That’s why we are committed to delivering real savings families can depend on. Since I became Prime Minister we have lowered taxes by $6,600 for the average Canadian family. You will hear more during this election about our plans to deliver more tax relief and benefits for you and your family.
Finally, safety and security for our families and our country. We need to keep our neighbourhoods safe by protecting law-abiding citizens and punishing criminals for their behaviour. We also need moral and decisive leadership that can protect Canada from the rising and very real global threat of terrorism.
How do you balance political life and your family life?
Our children, Ben and Rachel, increasingly have their own interests that Laureen and I do our best to support, such as volleyball and music. Ben is in university and Rachel is in high school, so they are getting more independent. That said, we still manage to have breakfast together most mornings – it’s our way of connecting before everyone goes their own way for the day.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau spends time with his children, Xavier, Ella-Grace and Hadrien on the campaign bus.
Justin Trudeau
Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada
What are some of the hot topics for families in this election?
When I was elected to lead the Liberal Party of Canada, I made a commitment to spend my time talking to Canadian families across the country. Time and time again, I’ve been told the same thing: after a decade under Stephen Harper, Canadians are having to work longer and harder just to make ends meet.
I have a plan that will make a real difference for everyone. It will bring change to help families get ahead, put more money in their pockets, and bring our country closer together.
Why should Canadian families vote for your party?
I’m a 43-year-old father of three kids. I love them and I want them to grow up in the best country in the world. Like me, many of our Liberal candidates in our region – people like Catherine McKenna, Chris Rodgers, and Philippe Archambault – also have young families. They too understand the challenges that come with raising kids today. We know too many parents are struggling with saving for their own retirement and their children’s education.
I have a plan that will cut taxes for the middle class, so families can keep more of their paycheques. We will also create one, bigger, fair, automatic, and tax-free monthly benefit cheque that will help families with the high cost of raising their kids. Under our plan, a two-parent family, with two kids, earning $90,000 per year will get $490 tax-free every month. Nine out of 10 Canadian families will get more from our plan. In fact, our Canada Child Benefit will lift 315,000 children out of poverty.
How do you balance political life and your family life?
Spending so much of my time on the road – and away from Sophie and the kids – is one of the hardest parts of my job. But I am driven by the fact that I am building a better country for my kids.
When I chose to run for office, I hesitated for a long time because I knew, better than most, the kind of impact that having a parent in politics can have on a family. But I came to realize that in order to be a good father to my kids, it wasn’t just about being there every night to tuck them in or see them off to school. It’s also about doing everything I can to make sure that they are growing up in a better world.
Tom Mulcair and his family at the Calgary Stampede.
Tom Mulcair
Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada
What are some of the hot topics for families in this election?
After 10 years of Stephen Harper, middle-class families are struggling to get ahead. But the good news is that this election offers families very clear choices. Will it be Mr. Harper’s plan to sink billions into income-splitting for the wealthiest 15 per cent? Or my plan for a million $15-a-day childcare spaces?
Will it be Mr. Harper’s plan for more corporate tax handouts? Or my plan to create quality jobs by kick-starting manufacturing and small business?
On issues from health care to climate change, you’ll find very clear choices.
Why should Canadian families vote for your party?
Canada’s own Finance Minister said we should leave climate change to our grandkids to figure out. You wouldn’t treat your family that way. We can’t build a country that way either.
Growing up with nine brothers and sisters, we learned to look out for each other. As a father and grandfather, my job is to help the younger generation pick up the torch.
As your Prime Minister, I will fight for those same middle-class values.
I have the plan to help families get ahead—and a strong team that’s ready to get the job done.
That’s why I invite you to elect an NDP government on October 19.
How do you balance political life and your family life?
My family is my joy, and though 35 years of public life, I’ve learned the value of scheduling. Whether it’s a date with Catherine or a big family gathering, if it’s on the calendar, it’s sacred.
Catherine and my sons are also among my most trusted advisors. Inviting family into the political fold isn’t for everyone, but for us this is a labour of love.
I simply refuse to see family as an intrusion on work. Living life is part of the job description. Lose that and you lose touch with the reality of the people we’re here to serve.
Elizabeth May and her daughter, Cate May-Burton, 24, at the National Leaders Debate.
Elizabeth May
Leader of the Green Party of Canada
What are some of the hot topics for families in this election?
I think Canadian families want to know that they can make their families and family time a priority and not lose out on their careers.
Every policy passed by the Green Party will be checked to see if it works for children, because if it works for children, it works for everybody.
Greens think holistically. The investments we will be making in public transit help families. We want efficient public transit that saves hours out of our lives, and childcare spaces.
We want to create income assistance for low-income families so that no individual earning less than $20,000 a year should have taxes taken.
We need to work as a society to ensure every Canadian child, including First Nations children, has a strong nurturing start in life. That should be a societal goal as much as driving up the GDP.
Why should Canadian families vote for your party?
We’re the party that wants to put families first. The Universal Childcare Benefit that Stephen Harper isn’t going to be able to provide quality childcare for kids. It isn’t going to help families that are scraping by.
How can we describe this society as child friendly, when the health indications for our children are not as good as their parents when they were kids? The whole population
of children in the early part of the 21st century will have higher rates of diabetes and higher instances of heart disease. We shouldn’t tolerate this.
Every kid should have access to recreation. We have the infrastructure, but the recreational facilities and sports fields of our public school system remain locked most of the time. We need to provide the right kind of funding so they can remain open, and all income groups can use them.
How do you balance political life and your family life?
I have an adult daughter and she is an indispensable part of this campaign. She has taken a break from writing her Master’s thesis to join me on the campaign trail.
Photo: Jason Ransom
Photo: Liberal Party of Canada
Photo: Canada’s NDP
Photo: Green Party of Canada