• CTF Lays out Case for Full Budget in Testimony before Finance Committee
  
• CTF States: Both National Security and Fiscal Security must be protected
  
• CTF Notes: It has been 598 days since the last Budget
  
• CTF Predicts: Late-November Budget

MONTREAL: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) appeared today before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance as the committee stopped in Montreal as part of its national pre-budget consultation process.

CTF federal director, Walter Robinson, testified this afternoon before the House of Commons Finance Committee and laid out the economic evidence, pre- and post-September 11th, which points to the need for a federal Budget.

"A Budget document is a signal of a government's fiscal and political direction," Robinson told the all-party committee. He also noted that it has been 598 days since the last budget and that "Canadians deserve to receive this signal next month. They need to know that national security and fiscal security will both be protected."

In its submission, the CTF defines fiscal security as "ongoing tax relief, legislated debt reduction and focused government expenditures."

"The government can respond to the justifiable and understandable public concern for increased national security measures by reallocating from existing budget envelopes like corporate welfare and HRDC boondoggle spending," stated Robinson. "There is no need whatsoever to return to deficit financing to prosecute the war on terrorism."

"We know that federal departments are re-profiling expenditure envelopes today. We know that Minister Martin has just received a briefing from the country's leading economists. The data is at hand to fashion a budget and the nation cries out for fiscal leadership in these anxious times," Robinson testified.

"With tax revenues sure to plummet in the months ahead, Minister Martin owes it to Canadians to deliver an updated Budget plan," Robinson concluded. "We are confident the Finance Committee will relay our message and arguments to the Minister and Canadians should circle November 20th or 27th on the calendar as the likely date for a fall budget."