OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) announces that John Williamson will step down as its federal director today. John has served as the CTF's representative and national spokesman in Ottawa since January 2004 and joined the taxpayers' watchdog group in September 2002 as provincial director in Ontario. He will begin graduate studies at the London School of Economics on October 1.

Mr. Williamson has been named a Chevening Scholar by the British government's Foreign & Commonwealth Office and awarded a Chevening scholarship. While pursuing his Master's degree, he will be a senior fellow with the Manning Centre for Building Democracy and is the recipient of the centre's Fred Eaton scholarship. He will also be a senior fellow with the Fraser Institute.

Responsibilities for the CTF Ottawa office will be managed by research director Adam Taylor until a new federal director is appointed.