60 Reasons to dump Harper - Continued

#46 MESSAGE TO WIFEY: STAY AT HOME

At least two recent announcements by the Harper government are designed to keep women at home.

The first was the 2007 budget, which disproportionately rewards married couples where one partner earns most or all of the income. These breaks shift the trade-off for women who are already at home in the direction of staying there — and even rewards partners who work part time for quitting to stay at home.

The second is the $1200 child care benefit for children under six. While doing virtually nothing for those moms who work — where can you find child care for $25 a week? — the plan was a hit with those already staying at home with their kids. When it won nearly universal approval from ultra-con so-called family values leaders last fall, one had to wonder what they were actually applauding: tax breaks or social engineering?

Starting on April fool's day (not an accident) and for the next two months, xtra.ca brings you a countdown of 60 of the ways Harper is reshaping Canada in his own image. Here are numbers 47 to 50 that we have missed since our last post:

#47 HARPER PAYS LIP TO ENVIRONMENT
#48 STOCKWELL DAY PUTS PARDONS UNDER REVIEW
#49 SO MUCH FOR EXTRA ACCOUNTABILITY, MR HARPER
#50 HARPER HAS NEVER ATTENDED A PRIDE PARADE

LINK: Aislin (cartoon credit)
LINK: Xtra