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Ontario Liberal and Conservative Party Leaders Endorse Taxpayers' Agenda

Author: John Williamson 2003/09/10
Ontario News Release
  • CTF Secures Signatures on Taxpayer Protection Promise from Premier Ernie Eves and Opposition Leader Dalton McGuinty

    Premier Ernie Eves' signed pledge (134 KB)

    Opposition Leader Dalton McGuinty's signed pledge (134 KB)

    TORONTO: Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) Ontario Director John Williamson is pleased to announce that the Liberal and Conservative Party leaders have each signed the Taxpayer Protection Promise. By signing this CTF document Premier Ernie Eves and Opposition Leader Dalton McGuinty have re-committed themselves, and their parties, to abide by the Taxpayer Protection and Balanced Budget Act, and, specifically, "not raise or implement any new taxes without the explicit consent of Ontario voters, and not run deficits."

    "The Taxpayer Protection and Balanced Budget Act is the most important piece of legislation on the books protecting Ontario taxpayers from tax-happy politicians," said Mr. Williamson. "With these two pledges signed, sealed and delivered to us, Ontario taxpayers can count on predictability in government budgeting, in the level of taxes they pay, and - most important - retain the power to squash tax hikes they think are excessive."

    Mr. McGuinty appeared with Mr. Williamson to publicly sign the CTF's Taxpayer Protection Promise. A signed copy of the promise from Mr. Ernie Eves was delivered to Mr. Williamson.

    "The CTF does not endorse the campaign agendas of political parties," Williamson explained. "Rather by signing our Taxpayer Protection Promise, the candidates are endorsing our agenda. Each is signaling to the electorate that they can be counted on to act responsibly in government and protect the interests of taxpayers. We will hold whomever wins the Oct. 2 election to this standard."

    Taxpayers Protection and Balanced Budget Act (Synopsis): This law was passed with bipartisan support (76-9) by the Ontario legislature on Nov. 23, 1999. The Taxpayer Protection law prohibits the provincial government from raising most taxes and deferring scheduled tax cuts without first holding a province-wide referendum. During an election campaign, a party leader may also provide a written statement to the Chief Election Officer indicating that, if the party forms the government following the election, the party intends to raise taxes by a specific amount, establish a new tax, or give a person or body an authority to tax. The Balanced Budget law requires annual balanced budgets and drastic reductions in pay - 25 per cent in the first year of deficit and 50 per cent in subsequent years of a deficit - for the premier and the cabinet should they run a budget deficit again.

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