Minister responds to Opposition's call for a "mini-Budget" Finance Minister Paul Dicks said today that any attempt by the Opposition to compare the recommendations of the Premier's Advisory Council on the Economy and Technology (ACET) to the PC election platform are erroneous and ridiculous. "The advisory council's recommendations, if fully implemented, would cost just over $200 million over five years," said Minister Dicks. "There is no comparison to the almost $900 million in tax cuts suggested by the Opposition in February. e are talking about modest affordable tax reductions, not the recipe for bankruptcy that was highlighted in the Blue Book." The minister pointed out that the government rejected the Opposition's tax reduction proposal in February and rejects that proposal again now. "The government recognizes the need for tax reform, and for that reason we requested that the advisory council undertake a province-wide consultation to provide input and recommendations. That review is now finished and we are currently studying their report, along with our own analysis," said Minister Dicks. "When we are ready to implement change, the people of this province can feel secure that those changes will be based on a more modest approach which is affordable. This government believes that our fiscal dividend should be shared with the people of this province, but in a responsible and affordable manner." Media contact: Paula Dyke, Communications, (709) 729-0329. _______________________________ Comparison of ACET
Recommendations with Estimated Impact of ACET Recommedations
* Based on estimates done in February 1999 1999 11 09 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|