As moneybags Manley rose in the house to present the federal budget, taxpayers across the country could feel their wallets getting a little bit lighter. This budget can be summed up with four simple words - out of control spending. Since 1996/97 spending has risen 35% and is projected to climb by 26% over the four-year period from fiscal year 2001 to 2004. What is more alarming about this spending spree is that it breaks the federal government's own Budget 2000 guidelines that spending would be limited to inflation and population growth.

So what about income taxes After 10 years of Liberal rule, the tax burden shouldered by Canadians remains the same. Of all the taxes collected by the federal government, 47% is courtesy of working Canadians, that is the second highest level they have been since 1993. It is clear that Ottawa continues to dine out on individual taxpayers to satiate the lion's share of its overall revenue appetite.

With much of the bad, there was some good in the budget. The cut in Employment Insurance taxes (to take effect in 2004) is certainly welcome - this will save employees $47 and employers $65 per employee at the maximum contribution level. Having said that, payroll taxes are still up 40% over the past 12 years.

There was also a reduction in the air travelers security charge (read: flying tax) by $5 on domestic flights bringing the domestic round trip charge from $24 to $12. But putting $10 back into someone's jeans does not answer some fundamental questions about the flying tax - such as what are the differences between improvements that benefited public safety in general and those that were of unique benefit to Canadian travelers

Another announcement of note was the $935 million for the national day care strategy. Rather income redistribution schemes such as GST cheques, low-income families would be better served by raising the Basic Personal Exemption to $15,000 by 2008. This would permanently remove 2.1 million Canadians from the tax rolls and would afford the opportunity for lower income families to provide a decent living to their children without depending on monthly and quarterly government cheques.

For the Province of Manitoba, this money could not have come at a better time. With talk of dipping into the Fiscal Stabilization Fund to the tune of $62 million to balance the budget, the feds have given Manitoba a little bit more breathing room. But don't expect any income tax cuts on the provincial front either - the federal government's spending spree is likely contagious.

When all is said and done this budget amounts to nothing more than a walk through the federal candy store with spending treats for everyone - sadly it is taxpayers that will suffer fiscal tooth decay.