The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) is urging the federal government to address Canadians’ real financial worries rather than sideline them in the political bluster brewing over a federal budget and possible election.
The Conservative federal government will release its annual budget in the House of Commons on March 22. Each year prior to the budget the CCPA offers an alternative perspective on priorities that would meet the needs of Canadians.
With the release of its annual Alternative Federal Budget (AFB), the CCPA proposes a federal budget that connects with what matters to Canadians: post-recession job and household debt worries, pension concerns, worsening income inequality and climate change.
To address Canadians’ growing financial insecurity and ensure the social safety net is there for Canadians—whether they’re sick, retired, or just starting out in life the AFB sets the following priorities:
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Create jobs: Setting the foundation for a robust recovery by making public investments that provide Canadians with dividends for years to come, and creating 300,000 jobs in the short term.
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Build infrastructure: including better pension income, universal pharmacare and national child care.
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Create a legacy tax: Shoring up federal revenues with a new Legacy Tax on the richest one percent of Canadians, who are doing better than they have since the 1920s and should contribute to Canada’s economic recovery.
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Stop Tax Cuts: Cancelling the additional 1.5 per cent reduction to corporate tax rates, and returning to 2008 levels of taxation, saving $13.7 billion.
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Develop a green strategy: Turn Canada into an environmental leader, rather than a laggard, by kick-starting a focused and forward-looking green strategy.
“With so much at stake for the financial security of the country—and all Canadians—now isn’t the time to ‘stay the course’ or waste money on questionable corporate tax cuts, fighter jets and jails,” says David Macdonald, AFB coordinator.
The 2011 Alternative Federal Budget is available on the CCPA website.
For more information contact:
Kerri-Anne Finn
CCPA Senior Communications Officer
613-563-1341 ext. 306 or 613-266-9491
