WINNIPEG: Premier Gary Doer and Mayor Glen Murray should back off from awarding taxpayer dollars to select businesses like Schneider. The over-generous concessions from government represent two-tier taxation.

"The pork-barrel handouts lead one to conclude - not unlike Orwell's Animal Farm - that all businesses are equal but some businesses are more equal than others," said Victor Vrsnik, CTF provincial director. "The new economy confers tax and grant privileges to select businesses while ordinary taxpayers are saddled with a disproportionate burden of the cost of government services."

The City and Province should adopt an economic policy that attracts business to Manitoba based on lower taxes and utility costs for all Manitobans.

"Government cannot successfully build an economy on taxpayer handouts and concessions," noted Vrsnik. "For a sustainable business environment that attracts companies from across the continent, Manitoba and Winnipeg must move quickly to develop a competitive tax and utility environment."

The City and the Province should set an example for the rest of the country by adopting a cold turkey approach to businesses subsides. Prior to the election, the NDP committed to erasing $20 million in business subsidies.

To make good on that promise, the Premier should spearhead an initiative to outlaw corporate welfare through an inter-provincial trade agreement.