TORONTO - The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has launched a petition calling on Premier Dalton McGuinty to cancel the 25 per cent pay raise for MPP's and to allow voters around the province to decide whether their MPP deserves a pay raise during the 2007 election.

"Premier McGuinty is trying to fast-track this pay raise without getting any input from the people who pay his salary," said CTF Ontario director Neil Desai. "The premier has extended sittings at Queens Park to make sure this legislation goes into effect before the holiday season. Why didn't he extend sitting hours to discuss the $127-million the auditor general found missing at Hydro One or the executives from Children's Aid purchasing luxury vehicles and all inclusive vacations on the public dime It's because he does not respect taxpayers."

Should the bill pass, members of the legislature would receive a raise of $22,000 moving their annual salary to $110,000 and the government's contribution to MPP RRSP's will double. The previous Ernie Eves government attempted to pass a similar 25 per cent pay increase for MPP's prior to the last provincial election however, public outcry and strong opposition from the CTF helped squash that proposal.

"Premier McGuinty keeps comparing this salary increase to salaries of MP's in Ottawa. Unfortunately, he is comparing apples and oranges. While Ottawa continually balances the books, Mr. McGuinty has yet to deliver on his promise of balanced budgets and a tax freeze." Added Desai "Taxpayers deserve a right to decide what their representatives earn. In light of Mr. McGuinty's poor fiscal record he shouldn't be so confident that they will rubber stamp a 25% pay raise."