-- CTF Great Canadian Puck-Off Starts Next Tuesday --

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today urged Canadians to send hockey pucks to the Prime Minister next Tuesday, January 25th to show their disgust and displeasure at the federal government's bailout of Canadian NHL teams.

"The calls we've received and emails we have logged in our offices across the country in addition to widespread media reporting of taxpayer outrage is proof positive that the government blew the call on this file," said CTF federal director Walter Robinson. "When the rubber hits the Prime Minister's office in a shower of hockey pucks, Mr. Chretien might have some sense knocked into him and respond to Canadians' visceral displeasure with this bailout scheme."

"Minister Manley may have scored on the taxpayers net with this bailout package, but the Prime Minister is the one with the big "C" on his jersey," added Robinson. "It's only fair that taxpayers tell Mr. Chretien that they don't wish to play the subsidy game and return a puck to his office."

Hockey pucks can be sent to the Prime Minister in Ottawa. His office address is:

Prime Minister Jean Chretien
Langevin Block
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A2

"By sending a hockey puck to the Prime Minister, Canadians would send a powerful signal to Mr. Chretien that they disagree with this bailout," said Robinson. "Or they can drop a puck - or more - at the local constituency office of the nearest Liberal MP. Just give us a call, we will supply the address."

On Tuesday afternoon Mr. Robinson will deliver hockey pucks to various Ottawa area MPs as well as the Prime Minister's office as part of the Great Canadian Puck-Off effort.