Eliminating child poverty tops social policy agenda

A social policy agenda is being prepared for the Canadian government to take aim at combating child poverty and possibly boosting maternity benefits again.

At this time, federal officials say there has been no decision whether the policy will be accompanied by a budget in the fall that could outline tax increases or cut them.

As well, they deny speculation raised by the National Post that the government is thinking of doubling the eligibility period for benefits to new mothers to two years.

The amount of time mothers can receive unemployment benefits while at home with a baby was increased two years ago to 12 months from a previous maximum of six months.

A survey shows, however, that few new mothers are taking advantage of the current maximum, with most preferring to return to work after eight to 10 months.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien said child poverty is a major challenge and his Liberal government is looking at a federal-provincial deal signed two years ago.

Under the deal, the federal government will spend $2.2-billion over five years for a variety of programs to be delivered by the provinces. This would include day care, parenting classes and pre- and postnatal care.

Chretien ignores calls for retirement

Prime Minister Chretien is on tour this summer, trying to keep at bay the controversy over his leadership.

He was in Winnipeg to greet Canadian soldiers returning from Afghanistan and visited the North American Indigenous Games before heading west to British Columbia.

The 67-year-old prime minister faces a Liberal leadership review at the party's convention in February, amid growing calls for him to retire.

His main competition is Paul Martin, who was dumped as finance minister by Chretien amid anger that he was trying to upstage him.

"I've been elected by the Canadian people for five years in November 2000, so I have to fulfill my mandate from the people of Canada," Chretien said.

Names in the news

Federal Conservative leader Joe Clark visited farmers in Saskatchewan to take a close look at how the drought is ravaging agriculture in Western Canada. He called on the Liberal government to step in with immediate aid for producers. It doesn't make sense for the cash-strapped Saskatchewan government to hand out money when the federal government is expecting a multibillion-dollar budget surplus, he said.

Buzz Hargrove, the head of the Canadian Auto Workers, is calling for action to help the homeless in Toronto by opening up abandoned buildings. He said the union would give $50,000 to repair a dilapidated, three-story house if the municipal government takes over the building and gives it to the homeless, and if the provincial and federal governments pitch in with money for renovations.

Facts and figures

Canada's dollar is on the way down again amid reports of a flat economy that might head off further interest rate increases. The dollar is trading at 62.97 U.S. cents while the U.S. dollar is worth $1.5880 Canadian before bank exchange fees.

The Bank of Canada key interest rate remains at 2.75 percent while the prime lending rate is 4.5 percent.

Stock markets are higher, with the Toronto exchange at 6,546 points while the Canadian Venture Exchange is 1,021 points.

Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 9, 11, 27, 33, 40 and 42; bonus 25. (July 27) 1, 5, 13, 22, 28 and 43; bonus 9.

Regional briefs

There's a proposed agreement to prevent more violent incidents between commercial lobster fishermen and members of the Burnt Church First Nation in New Brunswick. A deal, estimated to be worth $25-million to the Burnt Church natives, was presented to the band council by federal negotiators for consideration. Commercial fishermen say the native lobster fishery is harming their livelihood.

After a public outcry, the Ontario government backtracked on a decision to increase nursing home fees by 15 percent. Instead, the controversial hike will be phased in over three years. As of Sept. 1, 60,000 residents at 525 long-term care facilities will pay $3 more per day and then another $2 daily in each of the next two years.

The Quebec government has approved a joint venture in hopes of winning a piece of the lucrative Mexican gaming market if the country's politicians sanction the construction of casinos in tourism meccas after a 70-year ban. The government venture would be between Loto-Quebec, which runs the casinos and lotteries in the province, and the pension fund-sponsored Capital-Amerique. It's expected that casinos will be built in tourism centers such as Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Acapulco.

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