VICTORIA: The BC division of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today updated its weekly estimate of election-related announcements and proposed spending by BC's two major political parties. The NDP now clocks in at over $3.8 billion after recent announcements on child care subsidies are added to last week's estimate (of $3 billion). The opposition Liberals are pegged at over $1.4 billion, including a new CTF estimate of that party's promise to provide high-speed Internet service to all areas of the province and to match new NDP spending on education. That is up from $1.1 billion last week.

In brief:

The per taxpayer estimate of NDP election-related promises and spending announcements is $2,020 per BC taxpayer.*

The per taxpayer estimate of Liberal election-related promises and spending announcements is $761 per BC taxpayer.*

"Neither the Liberals nor the NDP have announced any innovative policies on healthcare or education. Instead, both parties seem content to throw money at both areas with no thought given to how more bang might be delivered for a taxpayer buck," said CTF-BC director Mark Milke.

The estimates track announcements and spending since December 2000, and include estimates of additional spending in the fiscal year 2000-01, the new budget which applies to fiscal year 2001-02,as well as multi-year estimates of promises beyond fiscal 2001-02 where applicable. The Liberals, based on public comments by leader Gordon Campbell, are assumed to copy the government's lead on healthcare spending, which accounts for almost $1 billion in proposed new spending in 2001-02.

A breakdown of the updated analysis is available on the Federation's website at www.taxpayer.com by 9 a.m. Pacific every Friday until the end of the election. The parties, the media, and the public are invited to advise the Federation on the announcements/promises listed. Some items are listed but not yet estimated. The Liberals in particular have been vague on public estimates of some of their campaign promises.

*Per taxpayer estimates assume 1.9 million tax-filers in British Columbia based on CCRA estimates.