BREITKREUZ REFUTES MAYOR’S COMMENTS
“That statement is simply incorrect. In fact, gas tax revenues for municipalities was an idea first proposed by the Conservative Party.”

OTTAWA – Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative Party M.P. for Yorkton-Melville, responded to comments made during a radio call-in show by Yorkton, Saskatchewan Mayor Phil DeVos. DeVos stated that if a federal election were called, the Liberal deal to turn a portion of gas-tax money to municipalities could be lost. In addition, DeVos said he believed the Conservative Party didn’t have a plan for municipalities.

“That statement is simply incorrect,” said Breitkreuz from his Ottawa office. “In fact, gas tax revenues for municipalities was an idea first proposed by the Conservative Party.”

Then Finance Minister, Paul Martin even voted to support a 2003 motion by Conservative MP James Moore, in support of using a portion of the federal gas tax for infrastructure. The motion stated: "That, in the opinion of the House, the government should initiate immediate discussions with the provinces and territories to provide municipalities with a portion of the federal gas tax."

The motion was passed by the House of Commons on October 7th, 2003, with Paul Martin among the Liberals supporting the Conservative motion.

“We are committed to honour any municipal gas-tax deals signed by the current Liberal government,” said Breitkreuz. “The $635-million agreement signed last week by Paul Martin and British Columbia will be honoured by a Conservative government and so too will any other contracts signed by this government.

“It’s obvious the Liberals are responding to a Conservative policy initiative. The Conservatives are the ones who proposed an alternative to the corrupt practice of the Liberal government of giving out infrastructure money at election time to buy votes. I can’t understand why the Mayor of Yorkton would make such a statement,” concluded Breitkreuz.

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