Editorial - 21-18

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) appears to have lost its collective marbles. Long known for its relentless attacks on public good spending in any form, it has now set its sights on none other than CANARIE Inc, Canada's globally respected broadband research network provider. Canarie inexplicably turns up on the CTF's list of Canada's Top 100 Tory Handouts.

The list is a seemingly random compilation of firms and organizations that have received grants, contributions, subsidies and what the group calls "corporate welfare". CANARIE ranks number four for $120-million to be spent over a five-year period. Although the funding was booked for FY06-07, Canarie only received a portion upfront with the balance to be paid out on an as-need basis.

Pratt & Whitney Canada takes the number one and two spots for two projects funded by the now-defunct Technology Partnerships Canada program. Why the amount wasn't presented as a single figure ($350 million) is anyone's guess. The only other tech-based investment listed is Alcan Inc, which received $19.1 million in TPC funds towards a $242-million pilot waste processing facility.

Most of the list is populated with funding to various first nation's groups and international aid to combat disease and poverty. Wasteful spending indeed!

CTF's rants against government spending have always been tiresome, but this latest attempt at publicity seeking is so over the top, it's simply ludicrous. Poorly researched and produced with little understanding of innovation or global economies, the CTF has hit a new low.