OTTAWA: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) Acting Federal Director, Kevin Gaudet, will be available for comment in advance of and after the release of the 2009 federal budget. The budget will be tabled by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty at approximately 4pm (EST) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, January 27, 2009.
Mr. Gaudet will be in the Railway Committee room (253-D Centre Block) on Parliament Hill following the budget lock-up to provide analysis and comment on the tax and spending details contained in the budget. He will also be available intermittently by phone that evening.
Note: News organizations are strongly encouraged to book advance interviews for pre- or post-budget commentary by calling 1-877-267-3218. After 9am on budget day Mr. Gaudet will not be able to return any messages during the budget lock-up.
The government has signaled its intentions to take Canada back into budgeted deficits for the first time in 13 years and will remain there for the foreseeable future. Despite, during the last election, having promised to balance the budget the debt will again rise, and in large amounts.
Canadian federal government program spending will break the $200-billion mark for the first time and by a wide margin. When the Liberals left office total program spending stood at $175-billion (2005/06 fiscal year). In fiscal 2009/2010, the federal government’s annual outlays will likely approach $225-billion.
The CTF is calling on the Conservative government to balance the 2009 budget.
