-- Open Letter Urges Premier Harris To Appoint Commissioner, CTF Will Also Press Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty On Same Issue at Ottawa Luncheon --

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today sent an open letter to Premier Harris urging him to intervene in the local debate on municipal restructuring by appointing a Commissioner to bring all elected officials to the table.

"The current climate in the Region of Ottawa-Carleton would be extremely hospitable and is, indeed, crying out for provincial involvement," said Walter Robinson, CTF Federal Director in his letter to Premier Harris.

The letter, along with an OPED piece (published in the Ottawa Citizen in March, 1998) urges the Premier to appoint a Commissioner with an ambitious mandate to reach a consensus or recommend a solution to the province before November 1999. As of November, candidates are entitled to register for the year 2000 municipal elections.

"Timing on this issue is critical, and the time to act is now " stated Robinson. "While the provincial government has shown leadership in many issue areas, their record for Ottawa-Carleton when it comes to our eternal governance issue is abysmal."

The CTF has offered to work with the province in compiling research for a commissioner or in whatever capacity the province deems necessary. Mr. Robinson will also attend an Ottawa-Carleton Board of Trade luncheon today to press Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty on this issue.

"As I have indicated to the Premier, our local mayors and councils have collectively shown themselves to be 'petulant little children in a sandbox' unwilling to get along or share their toys. Turf protecting and empire building are their claims to fame. They are incapable of putting the long-term interests of taxpayers and the future health of the region above their own ambitions," concluded Robinson. "It's time the province stepped in and appointed someone who can!"