REGINA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is challenging Saskatchewan political parties to sign a pledge to enshrine taxpayer protection in law. The three main parties have been contacted, and are asked to respond by midnight on October 17.

If signed, the pledge will commit the parties to enacting taxpayer protection legislation that would:

Require voter approval in a binding referendum for increasing existing taxes and the implementation of new taxes.
Require a balanced budget based on summary accounting methods within their first mandate.
Establish a mandated provincial debt repayment schedule.
Contain 'pay for performance' salary penalties for the premier and cabinet ministers if spending targets are exceeded.
"The rights of Saskatchewan taxpayers have been abused for too long," said CTF Saskatchewan director David MacLean. "Taxpayers deserve the right to hold their politicians accountable for managing the province's finances. This legislation would do exactly that."

If the elected party signs the pledge, Saskatchewan would join British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario as the only provinces with a taxpayer protection law.

"This legislation would usher in a new era of government accountability for Saskatchewan," said MacLean. "Time and again Saskatchewan taxpayers have been burned by governments unwilling to be fiscally responsible. Taxpayer protection legislation would hold our politicians personally responsible for the performance of their departments."

"Failure to sign the CTF pledge would indicate an unwillingness to keep their promises," added MacLean. "Our pledge is very simple - signing the pledge means candidates are looking us right in the eyes and telling us we can trust their taxing and spending commitments."