OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has once again challenged all candidates vying for Ontario PC leadership to resign their Cabinet positions (but maintaining their status as MPPs) or address substantive perceptual issues if they are from the private sector.
Taxpayers to Candidates: "We told you so!"
"New accusations have now been raised that Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has been piggybacking leadership activities on top of his province-wide pre-budget consultations and this is precisely what we feared when we first called for all Cabinet Ministers and other candidates to resign their conflicting posts back on November 16th," stated CTF federal director Walter Robinson.
"To make matters worse, one of Minister Flaherty's aides is quoted as saying that it is 'ridiculous' to suggest campaigning and government business can't be combined, end quote," added Robinson. "Talk about out of touch with public expectations. This is the 21st century and the public demands a certain degree of probity and integrity from elected officials. But yet again, we are treated to the sorry spectacle of this government abusing public dollars for partisan purposes," stressed Robinson, who also noted that Minister Flaherty's questionable conduct is most likely being mirrored in some manner throughout all leadership campaigns.
Harris must end "contempt for taxpayers": Fire Cabinet Ministers if they don't resign
"This shows blatant contempt for taxpayer dollars from the party that is supposed to be on the side of taxpayers," added Robinson. "It is time for candidates to voluntarily give up their Cabinet posts, and if they don't, the Premier must exhibit some leadership and fire them outright. Campaigning to be the next Premier is a full time job, but so is sitting in Cabinet. You can't honestly do both and remain true to taxpayers at the same time."
Taxpayers Questionnaire out Tomorrow
"With over 61,000 supporters nationally, our members want to know where the candidates stand on this ethical issue of continuing to sit in Cabinet, along with their plans for health care reform, government privatization targets and a host of other issues," added Robinson. "We will give the candidates ample opportunity to complete our concise survey before releasing results to supporters through our TAXPAYER magazine and on our web site to the general public."
"Taxpayer Legacy" Pledge to be unveiled on Thursday
"During the 1995 election campaign, we convinced Mike Harris to sign our Taxpayer Protection Pledge which resulted in the Taxpayer Protection and Balanced Budget Act some four years later," said Robinson. "On Thursday we will turn our attention to the future with a debt reduction pledge to see which candidates will step up to place Ontario on a path to zero debt. The deadline for signing the pledge will be December 31st just before the candidates debate in Ottawa."
Note to editors:
The CTF is Canada's largest and most effective taxpayer advocacy organization. Founded in 1990, its three-fold mandate is to: act as a watchdog on government spending, advocate fiscal and democratic reforms; and mobilize taxpayers to exercise their democratic rights and responsibilities.
The CTF is non-partisan (all board members and staff are forbidden to hold political memberships), a federally incorporated not-for-profit and does not receive any government funding.
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