-- CTF Says Manley Did the Right Thing - Finally, Now Time to Address Big Ticket Issues Like HRDC Boondoggle --

OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has reacted to the surprise announcement by Industry Minister John Manley that the federal government has abandoned its multi-stakeholder subsidy initiative.

"The people have spoken and Minister Manley did the right thing by abandoning this initiative," said CTF federal director Walter Robinson. "We do not underestimate the business taxation challenges that professional hockey teams in Canada face, and if the government can address them in an across-the-board manner that assists all Canadian businesses we will be fully supportive of such an initiative."

"NHL owners, specifically Mr. Bryden, engaged the country in an important, consuming and far reaching debate about Canada's punishing corporate tax regime. Coupled with a low dollar which benefits some industries and hurts others, Canadian governments should take notice of these problems," Robinson added. "But industry specific subsidies are not the answer, across-the-board business and personal tax reductions are."

"The challenge now is to move from the symbolism of this issue to the substantive issues of waste and mismanagement, starting with the billion dollar jobs fund boondoggle at Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)," added Robinson.

Responding to media reports, Robinson noted that the CTF is "appalled that HRDC now plans to give bonus pay to the same people who lost track of a billion dollars in the first place. Surely HRDC Minister Jane Stewart must see that this is offensive to taxpayers."

"At this point in time it is only prudent to abandon our "puck-off" campaign. Taxpayers must now transfer the momentum of this important public policy victory into the forthcoming budget. And we will continue to push for broad-based tax relief which will benefit all taxpayers and businesses,' concluded Robinson.