OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today reacted to recent pronouncements by Premier Eves concerning the state of Ontario's finances and has written to the new Premier laying out the case for the tabling of a full-fledged budget, ASAP.
Ruling Out a Deficit
"Since his swearing-in ceremony on Monday, Premier Eves has repeatedly assured Ontarians in several media interviews that he is not considering the possibility of running a deficit which is welcome news for Ontario taxpayers," stated CTF federal director Walter Robinson.
"We acknowledge that that the government has commitments to uphold in the health and education portfolios. This is why it is so critical that the Premier and Finance Minister Ecker must further trim non-essential spending, reduce the size of government through privatization and alternate service delivery and if necessary, even postpone the planned corporate tax cuts in order to balance the budget," said Robinson.
The Need for a Budget - Ontario's Special Warrants Practice is an Embarassment
"While we are encouraged by Premier Eves' stance against running a deficit, media reports indicating that the government may forego its traditional spring budget and instead table a simple economic update necessitate a response from the Premier. In short, Premier Eves must get his government's act together, bring down a throne speech and table a full-fledged budget," added Robinson.
"Ontario routinely waits until May to table its budget for the fiscal year that starts on April 1st. This practice is unacceptable and abhorrent to taxpayers. Consistently running a government on special warrants for seven or eight weeks into each fiscal year is an embarrassment to Canada's most influential and prosperous province," said Robinson.
"Even with the leadership race and transition of power, there is simply no excuse why a full-fledged budget cannot be tabled. Former Finance Minister Flaherty and ministry officials have done most of the groundwork and there is clearly no uncertainty left with respect to federal transfers and figures as Ottawa tabled its budget last December - some five month's ago. Ontarians deserve and expect a budget this spring, period," emphasized Robinson.
Good Government Necessitates a Budget
To bolster his point, Mr. Robinson pointed to the Public Accounts which identify the timing and necessity of a Budget document.
"The Ontario Government presents a budget each year, usually in the early spring." (Public Accounts, 2000-2001, page ix)
"The government's spending Estimates for the fiscal year commencing April 1 are presented to members of the Legislative Assembly following the presentation of the Ontario Budget by the Minister of Finance. The Estimates outline the Spending Plans of each Ministry that the Legislative Assembly will be asked to approve in the form of the Supply Act." (Public Accounts, 2000-2001, page ix)
Eves Should Send Signal
"It would be unfortunate if Ontario followed Ottawa's recent example of conducting government by news conference and ministerial fiat which would circumvent the legislature," concluded Robinson. "We trust that the Premier and/or his Finance Minister will announce a budget date without delay. This would be interpreted as another encouraging signal by taxpayers."
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