• CTF responds to announcement that sponsorship broker firms have been fired
  
• Minister fails to make courageous decision for Canadian taxpayers
  
• Accountability and priority setting - nowhere to be found in Ottawa

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today responded to an announcement from Public Works and Government Services (PWGSC) Minister Ralph Goodale that the controversial federal sponsorship program will continue with new guidelines.

"While we applaud Ottawa's decision to fire the controversial broker agencies, the problem isn't solved. The fundamental question of priorities remains unanswered," said CTF federal director Walter Robinson. "Why does Ottawa continue to give our hard-earned tax dollars to formula one races, fishing derbies, professional sports leagues and hot-air balloon festivals in the first place "

Minister Goodale stated this morning that he believes that the Government of Canada Sponsorship Program "is entirely appropriate" and that the program can "be operated on a sound basis and in the public interest."

"Again we have the sorry spectacle of a government that fails to address the true priorities of Canadians. Health care is in crisis, our military continues to use obsolete equipment and 24 cents out of every tax dollar is still lost to debt interest payments," noted Robinson. "Yet $40 million annually - if not more - will continue to be squandered through sponsorships. We challenge the minister today to walk down any street in Canada and ask 100 Canadians if they believe their tax dollars should be given to grand prix racing. We believe 99% would answer with an emphatic and resounding no!"

"Like the HRDC jobs fund shell game two years ago, transferring the sponsorship program to another area of government, this time Communications Canada and its bureaucrats, does nothing to end this purely partisan propaganda fiasco. No one has been fired. We have no reports of lost monies being recovered. And accountability, like our MPs, is off for summer recess," stated Robinson.

Robinson concluded, "Legitimate government advertising in the areas of public health and program entitlements is one thing, but giving money to organizations in return for government of Canada wordmark and logo placement is offensive in the extreme."