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The Conservatives’ campaign promise to introduce yet another boutique tax credit — for home renovations this time, although that scarcely matters — is almost indefensible as economic policy. Of course, if the past is anything to go by, the irritation expressed by economists will be more than compensated by its popularity with the voters.

This is probably not the most direct way of introducing a column about public daycare. But it turns out that the parallels between boutique tax credits and public daycare are surprisingly close.

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[np_storybar title=”A selection of reader comments from this story” link=””]

“There are some good points here. Single parents who work evenings and nights get no benefit from daycare systems.” – kgbla

“…recent census data shows nearly 50% of adults in their child bearing years do not have children. What is the rationale for redistributing hard earned income from these citizens to those who choose to have children? Worse, because the proposed program is universal it would take money from low income households and redistribute it to higher income households with children.” – disqus_avFSLf42qa