'Mothers are the bedrock of our families, communities and society'

NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE
PRIME MINISTER
OF CANADA

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Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the occasion of Mother’s Day:

Today on Mother’s Day, Laureen and I extend best wishes to all mothers across Canada.

Mothers are the bedrock of our families, communities and society.

They guide us, nurture us, and have a special place in our hearts. Today we celebrate the importance of motherhood and all that they do for us.

Our Government recognizes the need to support mothers both at home and internationally, which is why Canada is a world leader on the issue of maternal, newborn and child health.

Thanks to our leadership, world leaders launched the Muskoka Initiative in 2010, raising billions of dollars internationally to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the world’s poorest countries.

Canada will also host a major international summit later this month in Toronto where experts and global leaders will review the progress made to date and drive for more progress.

Domestically, our Government is taking action for families through numerous benefits and tax measures such as the Universal Child Care Benefit, the Children’s Arts and Fitness Tax Credits and the Family Caregiver Tax Credit, all of which are delivering results for Canadian parents.

More recently, our Government increased the maximum amount of the Adoption Expense Tax Credit to help make adoption more affordable, and enhanced access to Employment Insurance sickness benefits for parents of critically ill children.

On this special day, I would like to honour all mothers and grandmothers, past and present, for their sacrifices and commitment to their families.

We owe them our utmost gratitude for their unwavering love, support and devotion in our lives.
 
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