REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today condemned Ottawa's $1.2 billion loan to Quebec Aerospace firm Bombardier and challenged Paul Martin to state where his priorities would lay.

"Bombardier is one of the biggest consumers of corporate welfare in Canadian history," said CTF Director David MacLean. "And the federal government continues to throw good money after bad."

Over the years, Bombardier has received $491 million in various grants and contributions. Through the Canada Account, a fund administered by the Export Development Corporation, an estimated $6.7 billion has gone to subsidize Bombardier sales.

Added MacLean: "The federal government is quick to assist one firm in the aerospace industry to the tune of $1.2-billion while producers in the cattle industry are given a mere $190 million in aid for the BSE crisis and are still losing $11 million daily in export sales, and another $7 million per day due to lower beef prices."

"It's the tale of two industries," said David MacLean. "A struggling company in one part of the country gets immediate assistance in the form of a massive government loan, while little has been done for cattlemen across the rest of the country."

The CTF calls upon Paul Martin to state clearly where he stands both in terms of billions in continued corporate welfare spending and in terms of his government's spending priorities.