NEWS RELEASE

November 4, 1996

For  Immediate  Release

NATIONAL CRIME PREVENTION WEEK - IT'S THE FAMILY STUPID!

"Reform Fresh Start: Families under $30,000 income would see nearly 
all federal taxes erased."

Ottawa - Today, Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville, made the 
following statement in the House of Commons:

"Mr. Speaker, this is National Crime Prevention Week.  The direct 
and indirect costs of crime are likely $35 billion to $46 billion 
annually, with government expenditures on criminal justice almost 
$10 billion.  Crime costs us more than education.  Why has this 
national disaster come about?

A main contributing factor is the decline in the foundational role 
the family plays in child development and the transmitting of 
spiritual and social values.  Mothers and fathers in the home foster 
the necessary emotional development during a child's formative 
years.  Governments over the last 30 years have undermined secure 
families in healthy homes.

A Globe and Mail writer said of Reform's "Fresh Start" that tax 
changes would take one million low income families off the tax roles 
and increase child tax benefits a whopping 80 per cent.  Families 
under $30,000 income would see nearly all federal taxes erased.

Reformers believe that strong secure families are a real crime 
prevention program.  It's the family, stupid - I say."

A report released in September 1996 by the National Crime Prevention 
Council concluded that "a $5,000 investment in early childhood 
education returned over $28,000 in dividends to society" including: 
very significant reductions in juvenile and adult crime, fewer 
teenage pregnancies, better grades in school, lower unemployment, 
higher earnings and getting more people off welfare. "I believe the 
first and best teacher a child could have is a loving, caring 
parent," Breitkreuz emphasized.

"Liberals would take one look at the Council's recommendation and 
probably envision another government program with hundreds of 
bureaucrats trying to 'invest' hard-earned tax dollars in a 
grandiose 'early childhood education program'.  Reformers, on the 
other hand, would choose to leave the tax dollars in the hands of 
parents where they will do the most good.  Let's insure all 
government programs are Family Friendly," concluded Breitkreuz.

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For more information please call:

Yorkton:  (306) 782-3309

Ottawa:	 (613) 992-4394