• CTF presses for immediate release of Taxpayer Protection Act amendment
  
• CTF urges disclosure of 2003 and 2004 revenue/expenditure projections
  
• CTF warns government changes to MPP pension plan: "simply not on!"
  

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today continued its reaction to Monday's Ontario Budget. The CTF has called for immediate disclosure of the legislative amendments to delay tax relief and for truth in budgeting with publication of fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2004 revenue/ expenditure estimates.

Setting the record straight

"We are disappointed that the Premier is engaging in historical revisionism in his comments with respect to the Taxpayer Protection Act," stated CTF federal director Walter Robinson. "Yes, a selective reading of the facts supports his claim that he introduced this law as finance minister, but the whole truth is that he let this law die - not once, but twice - on the order paper and it was only after we raised Cain about the issue in the 1999 election campaign that Premier Harris brought it in after being re-elected."

Where is the amendment

"Back in 1995 it was the CTF that drafted model taxpayer protection legislation that was adopted in Manitoba later in the same year and served as the model for Ontario's law," added Robinson. "We are shocked that neither Ms. Ecker's political staff nor her ministry officials could produce the draft text of the amendment to delay tax cuts. Where is it and when will taxpayers see it "

How about some truth in budgeting

"Monday's budget also fails on the issue of transparency. For the seventh straight year, the government has failed to provide revenue and expenditure forecasts beyond the current fiscal year," said Robinson. "Even Ottawa provides two-year rolling forecasts. And on page 96 of the budget, the government downplays the impacts of its tax cuts delay. The budget shows the impact for 2002-2003 adding to $327 million, but this only represents three months. The full calendar year impact in 2003 is $1.3 billion."

Reinstatement of the MPP pension plan

"Media reports this morning indicate that some discussion has surfaced amongst government MPPs about the possibility of reinstating the gold-plated MPP pension plan," noted Robinson. "Let me be blunt, this stupid idea - for that's what it is - should be shelved immediately. Ontario taxpayers have witnessed enough backtracking for one lifetime, enough already."