-- 3RD Annual Teddy Awards Slated for March 22nd --
-- CTF to Honour The Best of the Worst in Government Spending --
-- Nominations Close on March 16, 2001, There's Still Time to Get Yours In --

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) announced today that the 3rd Annual Ted Weatherill Awards Ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, March 22, 2001, at 10:00 am EST. The black-tie awards ceremony/news conference will take place in Room 130-S, the Charles Lynch Press Conference Room, Centre Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

The Teddy Awards are named after Ted Weatherill, a former senior public servant whose employment was terminated in 1999 for "expenses incurred by him - incompatible with his position as Chairman of the Canada Labour Relations Board," according to the Office of the Minister of Labour.

The Teddy Awards honour a public office holder, civil servant or government that most exemplifies government waste, overspending, over-taxation, excessive regulation, lack of accountability, or any combination of the five. A Teddy may be awarded to said recipient on the basis of past accomplishments in such areas, or on the basis of proposed initiatives in the aforementioned categories.

"We have been collecting nominations for the past few months but we still welcome more from taxpayers or members of the media," noted CTF federal director Walter Robinson, "We are looking for nominees in three categories: federal, provincial/municipal and lifetime achievement."