Farm women’s issues may be heard more often in Parliament since two Saskatchewan MPs have been named to Conservative leader Stephen Harper’s shadow cabinet.
Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar MP Carol Skelton and Saskatoon Blackstrap’s Lynne Yelich will be responsible for researching and critiquing family-oriented government policies.
Skelton, a farm woman elected June 28 for a second term, said her critic area of social development is huge, involving women, seniors and child care.
“We really have to look at rural seniors’ income. Are they receiving the amount of money they need to live adequately?”
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Skelton said many seniors who were farmers don’t have private pension plans. They relied on retirement income from their farms that they turned over to their children, but with farming the way it is, the money isn’t there for the parents to be paid.
In the area of child care, she said, “I’m looking to see what the Liberals bring forward. I’m not sure how quickly (social development minister Ken) Dryden will be up and running with it. The prime minister has said it (a national day care policy) is a priority for him. Let’s just see how much it is.”
Skelton said flexibility in child care is a particular concern for farm families. She said she will contact day care groups across the country for their views on a federal policy. She will also be responsible for watching the government policy on public health as it pertains to blood stocks, SARS and West Nile.
Yelich, who will oversee her party’s position on the status of women and the role of family and caregivers, said the most important thing will be to ensure a fair balance between rural and urban people.
She also noted the irony that caregivers who are related to their patient cannot claim expenses while a caregiver who is unrelated can.
Parliament resumes Oct. 4.
