Introduction
I begin this chapter with the problem that Canada has no coherent family policy and that nine years of Conservative government approaches to federalism and social policy have made building family policy harder. I then explore the contested political topic of families, particularly what families stand for in political discourse and in policy proposals. Turning to the policy level, I consider the kinds of policies related to families that animate recent public debates. I begin to deconstruct why certain policies, particularly those related to tax credits and rebates, have such resonance and therefore must be taken seriously. I conclude that families require meaningful support that fosters real choices between equivalent high quality options, from affordable child care to family-oriented labour market policies.