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Chudleigh pushing Reed to go after federal tax cuts Halton MPP Ted Chudleighfires off letter to MP Julian Reed urging him to pursue tax cuts in Feb. budget By 1RENE GENTLE The Champion It may be past Christmas but Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh said he knows what gift Canadians really want - federal tax cuts. So he has fired off a letter to Halton MP Julian Reed asking him to do hia best to ensure they appear in the Liberal government's February budget. A 20 per cent federal income tax reduction over tive years would create more than two million jobs across the country, said Mr. Chudleigh. And il would make Canada's workers competitive with those south of the border. 'We're the highest taxed country in the G7," he said. "There's no question we need tax çuts." H-e noted that only Canadians earning in excess of $100,000 annually are on par with the United States. And anyone earning less than that las really being stuck," said Mr. Chudleigh. "We've proven that the tax cut money that goes into people'ls pockets is spent. They go to the hardware store and buy this or another store and buy that. AU that money is spent and re-spent." MIPP TER COULBOM "ile vast majority are." And governm'ents don't lose money when they lsish taxis. Instead, the extra caah is funnelled straight back into a rejuvenated oconomy. - .We've proven that the tas cut money that goes into people's pockets is spent," he said. "They go to thse hardware store and buy this or another store and buy that. AIl tisat money is spent and re-spent." Mr. Chudleigh cited a current business boom in Florida as an example. saying ils lack of income tax has made il a magne for migrating corporations. And the feda have the money to deliver the gooda, he pointed out. 'isey're sitting on a huge gov- emment surplus. "Isey can cul taxes right now." But it may not be enough. Though he predicted cuts will be featured in Finance Minister Paul Martin's upcoming budget, they could come mbt el'fect at the start of 2001 instead of this summer. And the feds may not bite the bullet and deliver the full 20 per cent the Harrs government is cati- ing for. "I'm afraid il won't be soon enough or big enough," he aaid. If il isn't, Canada could end up lagging behind the good times inspired by a stateside economic boom, aaid Mr. Chudleigh. "You've got to make hay while the aun ahines and the suni is shin- ing brightly on the U.S. right now," be said. "You don't want it to taper off. It's a delicate thing, managing an economy." But the signa are ail there for increaaed prosperity. And even if a stalled European market takea a header, a revived economy in Asia will help offset the drain. "Thia ia the longeat run in Amnerican hittory of a bull econo- my," said Mr. Chudleigh. "It's almost unprecedented." He encouraged Canadian resi- denta to write their MPa to lobby for federal tax cuta. In ils firat terrn of government, the Tories slashed taxes by 30 per cent. A further 20 per cent cut has been promised this term. That bas led to the creation of 642,000 new jobs in the province, Mr. Chudleigh aaid. At the saine time, provincial rev- enues have been fattened from $36.4 billion in 1995 to $43.4 bil- lion in 1999. t-'