Taxpayers Federation calls for all-party committee to review provincial spending and identify areas for savings

CTF offers to provide doughnuts should all-party meetings occur

Overspending since 1999 – upwards of $8.9 billion

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) called today for an all-party committee to review provincial spending and identify areas for savings within the provincial budget.  To “sweeten the pot” and encourage cooperation, the CTF offered to provide doughnuts for such a committee’s meetings.

According to CTF calculations, had spending been capped for inflation and population growth, savings of $8.9-billion would have accumulated.  This could have been used to eliminate the government’s core debt ($6.4-billion) and provide $2.5-billion in tax relief for Manitobans (over $2,000 per Manitoban).

The CTF also calculated that even if you take health care expenditures out of the equation, per capita spending was about 15.8 percent higher than the rate of inflation and population growth over the last decade.

“Especially during an economic slowdown, we need our elected officials to work together in the interests of taxpayers,” added Craig.  "Now is not the time for political finger pointing, but for MLAs to roll up their sleeves and identify ways of improving government.

Getting all three parties to cooperate isn't as far-fetched as some sceptics may think,” said CTF Manitoba director Colin Craig.  “When the Canadian Taxpayers Federation met individually with each party and raised the idea, all three expressed willingness to working together.  To sweeten the pot for MLAs and get this idea off the ground, we're even offering to provide the doughnuts for such a meeting.