Evans's parenting advice comes under fire
Alberta Finance Minister Iris Evans defended on Thursday comments she made in Toronto earlier this week, when she suggested one parent should stay home with the children.
During a speech to the Economic Club of Canada on Wednesday, she brought up her children's decision to sacrifice a second paycheque to ensure one parent stays home to take care of the kids.
"They've understood perfectly well that when you're raising children, you don't both go off to work and leave them for somebody else to raise," Evans said.
"This is not a statement against day care. It's a statement about their belief in the importance of raising children properly."
The comments raised a furor, prompting Thursday's statement.
"The references I made to parenting were in respect to a question about financial literacy and making sure children understand the value of a dollar," the statement read.
"My intent was to point out that understanding money and finances starts at home, not in the schools. And I was specificallypointing out that my three sons have done a better job than I had in passing this on.
"I understand some people were offended by some of what I said.
"I did not intend to suggest there is only one way to raise a child.
"In response to the minister's comments, Premier Ed Stelmach told the CBC: "We have a tremendous respect for working families --both parents working contributes greatly to the province of Alberta and to the country of Canada."
Stelmach was in Dawson City, Yukon for the western premiers meeting.