Budget Takes Step In RIGHT Direction - Doesn't Go Far Enough

TORONTO, March 4 /CNW/ - Today's budget measures are a good step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to put Canada back on the road to sustainable economic growth.

Responding to today's federal budget, National Citizens Coalition President Peter Coleman commended the Harper government for introducing measures that will limit the size of government, and address the bloated spending that has become pandemic in Canada. At the same time, the NCC criticizes the budget for not going far enough to secure the country's financial future.

"This is a matter of fiscal leadership, and doing what is right for Canada," added Coleman. "This government needs to go further in their efforts to reduce the size of the civil service, and more needs to be done to reduce spending."

"We are talking about the priorities of hard-working Canadians. Only when these priorities are met can we focus our financial resources on the areas that are going to put us back on the road to sustainable economic growth. Investing in job creation, innovation and technology improvements would be the right step to take."

The National Citizens Coalition 5-0-1 Campaign for Better Government has received wide spread media recognition and galvanized the voice of hard-working Canadians. It calls on federal and provincial politicians to reduce their pay by 5%, introduce zero-based budgeting, and limit federal spending increases to 1%, while reducing the size of government by hiring one new civil servant for every two that retire.

"It's good to see our government paying attention to our plan for a better Canada." Coleman added. "But more needs to be done. Promising a salary freeze, ending unnecessary hires in the civil service, and limiting spending increases to 2% doesn't go far enough. A salary freeze is not a salary cut. A 2% spending increase is not zero-based budgeting. And there is no real explanation of how this government will gauge what is a necessary hire in the civil service."

The National Citizens Coalition plans to continue moving forward with their innovative and unique 5-0-1 Campaign for Better Government. Today's budget was a step in the right direction, but the NCC does not plan to stop their fight until politicians across the country adopt the 5-0-1 Plan and put this country back on the road to sustainable economic growth.

The National Citizens Coalition is Canada's largest non-partisan organization for the defence and promotion of free enterprise, free speech and a government that is accountable to its taxpayers. To learn more about the NCC and the 5-0-1 Campaign for Better Government, visit the organization online at www.nationalcitizens.ca.

For further information: or interviews, please contact: Peter Coleman, President and CEO, National Citizens Coalition, office: [phone], cell: [phone]