REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today submitted its recommendations to Finance Minister Eric Cline regarding the upcoming provincial budget.

"Instead of trimming the fat in meat packing plants, our politicians should be trimming the fat in government," says Richard Truscott, Saskatchewan Director of the CTF, referring to recent government investments in several private businesses.

"The government should not use health care as political cover to raise the PST. The government should be looking for cost savings to cut taxes, not excuses to raise them," says Truscott.

"Saskatchewan people can't afford a tax hike, but a government that has tens of millions to spend on board plants, hamburger plants, and meat packing obviously can afford to cut its low-priority spending," says Truscott.

The CTF is recommending a Business Subsidy Elimination Act to put an end to the investment of public money in private business.

The CTF also wants the province to consider the total tax burden when planning the budget.

"The tax relief shell game has to end," says Truscott. "The income tax relief the government has been offering is welcome and very much needed. Unfortunately, much of the cost is being borne by property taxpayers because the province has off-loaded onto municipalities and school boards forcing them to hike property taxes."

The CTF is recommending strengthened income tax relief and new school tax relief and reform. This would be paid for by reductions in non-priority spending (outside of Health, Education, Highways, and Agriculture), the sale of some Crown assets, and the opening up of the commercial Crowns to private partners and shareholders.