VICTORIA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) responded today to the joint BC, Manitoba NDP leaders forum in Vancouver. Carole James, the BC NDP leader will host the forum intended to showcase Gary Doer's NDP government in Manitoba as an example for BC to follow.

The CTF's Manitoba director, Adrienne Batra cautioned, "If British Columbians want high taxes and runaway government spending, then Gary Doer is the guy to talk to. The only lesson Premier Doer can teach is how to drive up the cost of government and create massive deficits."

Last week, Manitoba's Auditor-General criticized the Doer government for its "made in Manitoba" style of accounting. Although the government claims to have balanced the budget, the Auditor General reported a $604 million deficit, for the third consecutive year. The government prepares two sets of financial statements, but only uses the one with a positive balance, a practice the Auditor General has condemned as "misleading by omission."

"It's an untimely show of support from Carole James, who has repeatedly praised Manitoba's NDP as a model for BC and commended Premier Doer for his ability to bring in 'balanced budgets.' Now, just one week after Manitoba's Auditor General revealed a whopping $604 million deficit, Premier Doer has come to share his lessons in success with James," stated Sara MacIntyre, BC director for the CTF.

Batra explained, "The NDP track record in Manitoba speaks for itself: forced unionization of the floodway project (pushing up the taxpayer tab an additional $60 million), $280 million of Manitoba Hydro funds raided as 'dividends', the Hydra House fleecing, (where executives lined their pockets with taxpayer money that was intended for the agency's disabled clients), and of course, our very own Manitoban version of a 'fudge-it, budget' for three consecutive years."

"If the BC NDP leader is looking for a model, it's not Manitoba," said Batra.

"I don't doubt that the two leaders will have much to talk about, given the past week's revelations. But if James is trying to build an election platform based on the Manitoba experience of phony balanced budgets, than I'd suggest she keep looking, that was tried in BC and taxpayers are doubtfully looking to go down that road again," MacIntyre concluded.