-- CTF Asks Why Taxpayer Protection Must Wait While Squeegees Muck Up the Agenda --

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today reacted to media reports that the provincial government can not guarantee passage of its long-awaited Taxpayer Protection and Balanced Budget legislation before next spring's budget.

"This is totally unacceptable. Now we have anti-squeegee kid legislation splattering onto the government's windshield and mucking up the agenda," stated CTF federal director Walter Robinson. "The question has to be asked: will this government ever honour its taxpayer protection pledge or will they simply change their policy wipers again "

On May 30, 1995, Premier Mike Harris, then leader of the third-place PC Party of Ontario, signed the CTF taxpayer protection pledge in Toronto promising "immediate passage" of taxpayer protection (putting proposed tax increases to voters through a binding referendum) and balanced budget legislation (making balanced budgets the law and fining cabinet ministers if the law was not upheld).

"When the Legislature reconvenes on October 20th, the pledge will be 1,604 days old. Taxpayer protection and balanced budget legislation is a legacy gift for future generations. Right now the only legacy on this file is an unkept promise," added Robinson. "Last spring we urged the government to keep its word, instead it betrayed its commitment. This betrayal is still with us."

The CTF will step-up its campaign for passage of this legislation beginning this week with a blitz email campaign of Ontario PC MPPs and will unveil other efforts over the coming weeks to communicate the necessity and urgency for "immediate passage" of taxpayer protection and balanced budget legislation.

"A child that was born when Mike Harris signed this pledge will be 4 years, 4 months and 21 days old when the legislature gets under way on October 20th," Robinson concluded. "With this rate of progress, this child may be voting before Mike Harris keeps his word."