LIBERALS MUST CLARIFY DION’S MUDDLED CHILD CARE MUSINGS

September 10, 2008

Stéphane Dion has seeded confusion about his position on the Conservative’s $1200 child care benefit.

In response to a question about whether he was standing by his past commitment to cancel the $1200 conservative child care benefit, Mr. Dion delivered an unclear and muddled response, leading to some media reports that he would double the benefit.

The Unclear Dion Quote:

“Under the Liberal Plan, there will be at the – 40,000 per year tax reductions of $1,800 and from $2,400 in a family living under the poverty line with two children are earning $20,000 and there are some of those here in Montreal. One family with two children, $2,400 support if we have the Liberal Plan.”

(CBC Newsworld - Tuesday, September 9 2008 - 08:00 (Local) - Segment #2)

Stéphane Dion made NO commitment to double the Conservative’s $1,200 child care plan. In 2006 he voted against the benefit, criticized it, and promised to cancel it.

How is it being reported?

“Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has moved to trump the Tories with a promise to double the Harper government's $1,200-a-year child care allowance and restore the court challenges program abolished by the Conservatives.” (Canadian Press, Sep 9, 2008)

“…Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion vowed to double the Tories' $1,200-a-year child-care allowance” (The Globe and Mail, Wednesday Sep, 10, 2008)

LLOYD ROBERTSON: “And as the Prime Minister was promising a tax cut, Liberal leader Stéphane Dion moved to trump the Conservatives by promising to double the Harper government's own $1,200 a year childcare allowance “ (CTV NEWS,: Tuesday, September 9, 2008 23:00:00 ET- 23:30 ET)

Is the Liberal Party trying to take credit for a fictitious campaign promise based on a muddled statement from Mr. Dion? The Liberal Party must clarify, and provide a full costing of, Stéphane Dion’s real child care position.