Mrs. Cabrielle Bertrand (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Health and Welfare):

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to set the record straight following a statement made by the Hon. Member for Winnipeg-Fort Garry (Mr. Axworthy) on Monday. The Hon. Member said that when the previous Government introduced the child tax credit in 1978, it did so without reducing other benefits for Canadian families.

Mr. Speaker, the truth of the matter is that at the same time, the previous Government modified benefit payments to Canadian families, but not to their advantage. Under the previous administration, the system of benefits for children was restructured as of January 1, 1979. Family allowance went from $25.68 per month per child to $20 per month. This is a reduction of 22 per cent. The Government also eliminated the $50 tax rebate per child.

In fact, the child tax credit was financed by reducing family allowance payments and eliminating the child tax rebate.

Now that we are mentioning the possibility of again making changes in the way benefits are distributed within the system, Liberal Members find the idea unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, it is interesting to note how commitments that were acceptable to the Liberals become unacceptable when they are being considered and proposed by a Progressive Conservative Government.

December 20, 1984