CTF Pre-Budget Submission (275 KB)

TORONTO: After meeting this morning with Finance Minister Greg Sorbara, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has released its 2004/2005 Ontario Pre-Budget Submission.

Entitled "A Twelve-Step Program For Ontario's Fiscal Recovery", the CTF's submission makes a dozen recommendations for a balanced budget that maintains core services for Ontarians. Among its recommendations are:

That the government abide by its election pledge to uphold the Taxpayers Protection and Balanced Budget Act and not run a deficit or raise taxes;

 

• That the government focus on its core priorities, eliminate waste, cut government spending, and pursue a results-based approach as opposed to simply measuring dollars spent;
  
   
• That the government pursue innovative, cost-effective ways of funding necessary services, such as dedicating a portion of gasoline taxes to municipal road maintenance.
  
  "This government has got to stand up and admit that it has a spending problem - not a revenue problem," said Ontario Director Tasha Kheiriddin. "When you look at budgets from past administrations, the myth that the Tories slashed spending quickly dissipates. Spending under the Ernie Eves government, when adjusted for inflation, was actually at a level approaching that of Bob Rae's NDP government. Mr. McGuinty has got to get spending under control if there is any hope of restoring fiscal order to this province."
  
  Numbers released by the Official Opposition in the legislature today reveal that the government has made spending commitments of close to $2.4 billion dollars for the coming fiscal year. According to Kheiriddin, "This is completely irresponsible. Some of these commitments, such as millions in dollars in tourism and event marketing, are highly questionable. This will make it even harder for the government to balance its books - and the CTF maintains our position that it must do so in the 2004/05 fiscal year, as promised during the election. If this is not done, it will set the government up for future deficits, increase the costs of debt servicing, and compromise its ability to provide quality services to Ontarians."