Taxpayers Federation invites Winnipeg mayoral candidates to sign no tax increase pledge

WINNIPEG: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has extended an invitation to all Winnipeg mayoral candidates to sign a pledge to vote against any property tax increases and begin elimination of the municipal business tax.

The pledge to the potential future Mayor of Winnipeg seeks to establish a clear direction of where the candidates stand on long held CTF advocacy positions to lower property taxes and gradually remove the business tax. "There is a dramatic accountability gap in politics today as more and more citizens feel that politicians promise us the moon but deliver on little to nothing once elected," stated provincial director Adrienne Batra. "Signing our pledge, the candidates will be given a credibility boost by explicitly signaling they can be counted on to act responsibly in government and protect the interests of taxpayers."

The CTF has produced placards that commit the mayoral candidates to vote against a proposal for a property tax increase and begin elimination of the municipal business tax. "By signing our pledge the candidates are looking into the whites of our eyes and telling us we can trust them," added Batra. " If citizens cannot rely on anything that politicians say during an election, then what is the point of living in a democracy " concluded Batra.

There are ten candidates vying for the top job at city hall: Gordon Kirkby, Daniel Vandal, Shirley Timm-Rudolph, Mary Ann Mihychuk, Garth Steek, Sam Katz, Allan Golden, Nelson P. Morrisson, Tim Diack and Natalie Pollock.

The CTF is Canada's largest taxpayer advocacy organization with over 65,000 supporters. Established in 1990, it is a federally incorporated not-for-profit, non-partisan, citizens' group dedicated to lower taxes, less waste, and accountable government.