Toronto: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation today reacted to the release of "Estimated Costs for Initiatives - October 2003", detailing the estimated cost of Liberal campaign promises, prepared by the civil service and presented to premier-designate Dalton McGuinty after the October 2003 election. The document was released in response to a Freedom of Information request and is 77 pages in length.

CTF Ontario Director Tasha Kheiriddin commented on the sky-high cost of the McGuinty government's campaign promises. "The numbers reveal the Liberal campaign promises are not affordable and that the plan is not sustainable," said Ms. Kheiriddin. "If the Liberals do not deviate from their plan Ontario will not dig itself out of its deficit."

In addition to the high costs, the document reveals discrepancies between Liberal election promises and the estimated costs prepared by the civil service:

- In the area of "Capping Class Sizes", the Liberal platform promised a fiscal 2006-07 cost of $375.9 million; the civil service estimate is $500 to $900 million;

- In the area of "Best Start Child Care" the Liberal platform promised a fiscal 2006-07 cost of $300 million; the civil service estimate is $203 to $406 million;

- In the area of "Better Housing", the Liberal platform promised a fiscal 2006-07 cost of $200 million, whereas the civil service estimate is $210 to $230 million.

The document also fails to account for the $1.2 billion in "Tory Waste" the Liberals claimed existed at the time of the election but has yet to eliminate in order to save tax dollars.

Kheiriddin also questioned the usefulness of the document, which was prepared at taxpayers' expense. "The information is presented in the least user-friendly format possible," concluded Kheiriddin. "It seems designed to hide the true costs and prevent any accurate accounting of Liberal promises."

The CTF will continue to analyze the document and issue additional commentary between now and the court hearing date of November 15.