Tax group displays provincial debt clock

By: Larry Kusch Posted: 1:00 AM CDT Wednesday, Sep. 7, 2011

THE Canadian Taxpayers Federation unveiled the Manitoba version of its debt clock on Tuesday at the legislative building just as the provincial election campaign got underway.

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THE Canadian Taxpayers Federation unveiled the Manitoba version of its debt clock on Tuesday at the legislative building just as the provincial election campaign got underway.

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This article was published 07/09/2011 (5142 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Canadian Taxpayers Federation unveiled the Manitoba version of its debt clock on Tuesday at the legislative building just as the provincial election campaign got underway.

And what a fast-moving machine it is. The Manitoba debt is projected to rise by $1.56 billion this year, the CTF estimates.

“It’s going up by about 50 bucks a second,” said Craig, who was standing beside the device Tuesday as Premier Greg Selinger walked by on his way to Government House to pay his respects to Lt.-Gov. Philip Lee and formally call the election slated for Oct. 4.

JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s Colin Craig (right) with the Frontier Centre’s Peter Holle and the Manitoba debt clock at the Manitoba legislature. — JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s Colin Craig (right) with the Frontier Centre’s Peter Holle and the Manitoba debt clock at the Manitoba legislature.

As Selinger passed by Craig, the premier got a dig in: “Hi, Colin. How’s your friend, Hughie?” he said, referring to Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen.

Craig said later that the CTF is being non-partisan with its debt clock. Earlier, it drew attention to the size of the federal and Ontario debts, he said.

Like the Conservatives, the taxpayers federation believes the NDP government is not being upfront with Manitobans on the state of the province’s books, Craig said. But on the other hand, the federation believes whoever is in power Oct. 5, they should be able to balance the provincial budget by 2013. The NDP has said it will do that by 2014, while the Conservatives say they’ll do it by 2018.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca