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Page 5, May 10,1997 Martin won't budge no tax By MIKE KOWALSKI Free Press Staff Writer Canadians hoping for quick tax relief after next month's federal election will be disappointed if the Liberal government returns to power. Finance Minister Paul Martin reiterated Thursday that his party has no imme- diate plans to reduce income taxes should the Liberals be successful on June 2. Nor will such an eleventh- hour. promise b forthcom- ing even if the Liberals find themselves falling into dis- favour with voters before election day, Martin insisfr- ed. "We made it clear in the last budget that we want to reduce taxes and we have reduced selective taxes," Martin told reporters prior to addressing a fundraising luncheon. in Bowmanville for incumbent Durham rid- .ing MP Alex Shepherd. "As a government we want to bring taxes down, we want to bring in a per- sonal tax cut for Canadians. But we won't do it until its affordable and it won't jeop- ardize social programs." Instead, the government will rely on the private sec- tor to create jobs due to continuing low intérest rates, Martin added, rather than waiting for a boost in consumer spending that advocates of a tax cut insist will occur. The government's inten- tion to follow the same eco- nomic policies if re-elected, was the major theme of Martin's remarks to the gathering of party support- ers and area candidates, including Whitby-Ajax rid- ing candidate Judi Longfield. (Shepherd represented north Whitby in the previ- ous parliament, but redistri- bution lopped off that por- tion of the sprawling urban- rural Durham riding.) In a speech punctuated by attacks - on the opposition, cuts planned Martin said the Liberals inherited a $42 -billion deficit ià ·1993 and reduced that figure to.$16 billion. "No longer is Canada in danger of being called a third-world nation," said Martin. "The International Monetary Fund now talks about the Canadian mira- cle," he said. "Not only are we doing well in terms of the deficit, but our exports are at record levels and the IMF said Canada, for this year and-next, will have the high- est growth rate of western industrialized nations." Never having seen "a bet, ter set of economic indica- tors," Martin warned that it coul'd be a different matter should the voters look else- where on June- 2. Criticizing the Progressive Conservatives for promising to "cut taxes, increase spending and bal- ance the budget," Martin said Tory financial projec- tions are misleading. "I know the numbers and believe me, (leader) Jean Charést's numbers are wrong and now, as we begin to make progress, is not the time to be wrong." As for the Reform Party, "if.there was any reason to increase education funding, its _ so Reformers can improve their math," said Martin in referring to that party's similar program of tax cuts, selected spending F REE INTERNET SERVICE FOR ONE MONTH S> Fist, Easy Hook-up >Hig Speed Service > Reliable, Accessible Support > Plans bomS9.99 Ma. ( m 4 increases and a balanced budget. (Both -the Reform and Tory parties also promise to slash government spending in many areas.) Although New Democratic Party is not advocating a tax cut, party leader Alexa McDonough also felt Martin's sting. "Alexa McDonough said that when she picks up a book, she never puts it down until she's finished with it...well just wait until she picks up your check book," said Martin in a sub- tle jab at the New Democrats demand for more spending initiatives to create jobs. "The Tories will take us back to a recession, Reform will take us back to the Depression and the NDP will take us back to Gilligan's Island." 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