REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today submitted a 12,500 name petition calling on the Premier and his government to provide meaningful property and school tax relief in next month's budget.

"This issue is a test of leadership for the new Premier. He'll have to bring a lot of government departments on board to deliver serious property and school tax relief in this budget," says Richard Truscott, Saskatchewan Director of the CTF. "The temporary, two-year school tax rebate program is simply not good enough," he adds.

Truscott says there's another reason the property and school tax issue should be laid at the Premier's door. "Local governments often get the blame for high property taxes, but for years the province has been off-loading onto local governments and local taxpayers, and now the chickens have come home to roost," says Truscott.

For months the CTF has been calling on the province to launch a comprehensive review of property taxes similar to the recent examination of the province's income tax system. "We need to look at the way property and school taxes are calculated to make the system fairer and more sensitive to income," says Truscott. "The problem is especially acute in rural areas where taxes have skyrocketed while incomes have plummeted," he adds.

But Truscott stresses that now is a time for action. "A review of the property tax system is needed, but taxpayers really can't wait for the relief. The future of many farmers depends on meaningful action in the budget."

The property tax bill for farmers has increased by more than 50% since 1985, while school taxes in rural areas have more than doubled. As farm income problems linger, taxpayers in dozens of rural municipalities passed resolutions last year threatening to stop paying their taxes.

The petition also asks for changes to provincial laws to give all Saskatchewan residents democratic initiative and referendum mechanisms at the local and provincial levels so that people can have a direct say on taxation and other issues.

"Many people feel that withholding taxes in a tax revolt is the only way to fight back. Our governments need to give future tax protest a lawful and democratic outlet," says Truscott. "The alternative is to keep the lid on the kettle until it explodes."