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| Thursday, February 03, 2005 Give tax breaks to parents
who keep kids active VICTORIA -- B.C. parents should receive tax breaks for keeping their kids active in extracurricular sports, recreation and the arts, according to former provincial cabinet minister Christy Clark. Clark plans to introduce a private member's motion in the B.C. legislature during the spring sitting, which begins Tuesday. The motion will urge government to encourage children's participation in these activities by providing families with a financial incentive. The motion is not suggesting any particular format or set percentage for these tax breaks, or outlining what the initiative might cost government in the short-term. It is meant to introduce the idea for discussion so that public response can be gauged, Clark said. "What I want to propose today is an incentive, something to reward parents and families who make good choices for their children and who are engaging them in activities that are good for all of us as a society,'' said the former education and children and families minister. Clark was flanked during the announcement by about 30 representatives of B.C. sports and arts organizations that support the concept. Also in the crowd was Sharon Mack, a 41-year-old Port Moody mother who came up with the idea, as well as Mack's 10-year-old daughter Shanel, who skis, is a brown belt in karate and is also active in water polo and rock climbing. Mack, one of Clark's constituents, said she spends $1,600 a year in sports registration for her daughter. She has tried to claim for these fees on her taxes, but has been turned down. "Any kind of benefit would be great,'' Mack said, "because then what I would do is just roll it over and put it into another activity [for Shanel].'' Clark said she will bring forward a private member's motion on the issue because rules do not permit her to bring forth a bill that would impact government revenue. Her hope is that government will pick up on the initiative and introduce legislation to create such tax breaks. "I believe that sports and arts and recreation have an inherent value to our society,'' Clark said. "They build smarter, healthier, better citizens and everybody -- whether or not you have children -- benefits from that.'' Governments rely on "disincentives" such as taxes on cigarettes and alcohol to encourage healthy behaviour, she said, adding that incentives for positive activity should also work. Finance Minister Colin Hansen said he has talked to Clark about the idea and would like to see any data on how this concept has worked elsewhere. No Canadian provinces currently offer such tax breaks to parents. "We haven't looked at it in any detailed way,'' Hansen said. "But it's certainly totally consistent with the premier's desire to promote fitness and sport. It's worth exploring.'' Bobbe Wood, head of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. and Yukon, said urging children to be more active is vital. Sixty-six per cent of Canadian children between five and 12 are currently inactive, and 25 per cent are either overweight or obese. "Our children are going to live shorter, sicker lives because of how we are letting them live,'' Wood said. "We strongly encourage government to pass this motion.'' Clark has posted an online petition at www.christyclark.net. PRICING THE KIDS' SPORTING LIVES: Christy Clark's survey of sports registration costs showed per season rates starting at $25 but ranging far upwards. Some examples: Baseball $25-$200 Soccer $100-$120 Arts $120/program Lacrosse $150 Football $250 Volleyball $275-$400 Ice hockey $400-$600 Dance $350-$1,000/month Ran with fact box "Pricing the Kids' Sporting Lives", whichhas been appended to the end of the story. © The Vancouver Sun 2005
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