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To Prime Minister Harper:

After 11 straight years of federal government surpluses and debt reduction, 2008-09 saw the Canadian government return to spending more than it earns - deficit financing. In 2011, the government added back to the debt, in just three years, more than the $105 billion it paid off during years of surpluses. During the 2011 election, you committed to balance the budget by 2014.

Deficit spending of the past led to an increase in the size of government, a trillion dollars in interest payments since 1961 and higher taxes to pay for it all. This won't help our economy or the families that have to pay for it.

In 1990, 38 cents out of every dollar sent to Ottawa was used to pay the annual interest on our federal debt. Today, that is down to 14 cents. Why would we want to go back?

We the undersigned call on the federal government to:

Balance the federal budget without raising taxes, as promised, by 2014.  Further, pass balanced budget legislation, guaranteeing balanced budgets except during times of war or natural disaster.