OTTAWA, ON: As members of Parliament return to the House of Commons today, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation released three priorities to make government more affordable for the people who pay for it. 

“Taxpayers have a simple message for the government ahead of the budget: Stop borrowing money,” said Franco Terrazzano, CTF Federal Director. “Canadians can’t afford to pay more than $1 billion every week to cover interest charges on the government credit card.

“Taxpayers expect MPs to put down the credit card and pick up some scissors.”

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released three taxpayer priorities as MPs return to the House of Commons today, including:

1.No more debt 

The government plans to borrow $65 billion this year, according to the Spring Economic Update. 

Debt interest charges will cost taxpayers $58.7 billion this year. That’s more than the federal government will send to the provinces in health transfers ($57.4 billion) or collect through the GST ($53.4 billion).

2.Stop overspending 

The federal government will spend $594.8 billion in 2026-27, according to the Spring Economic Update. The government said it would spend $588.3 billion in last November’s budget. 

That means the government is on track to spend $6.5 billion over its own budget this year.

3.Slash uncompetitive taxes 

The government could help Canadian businesses survive tariffs and improve competitiveness by ending the industrial carbon tax, scrapping costly fuel regulations, making gas tax relief permanent and eliminating the undemocratic alcohol escalator tax.

“The fastest, simplest and easiest way for the government to make life more affordable and our economy more competitive is to stop taking so much money in the first place,” Terrazzano said. “Canadian businesses are worried about surviving tariffs and people are losing sleep thinking about paying for the necessities and that’s why MPs need to prioritize tax cuts.”