Proposing a productivity and competitiveness strategy, the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) presented it's budgetary vision to the House of Commons Finance Committee. Covering government spending, taxation, improving international trade policy, developing a national energy strategy, regulatory reform and enhancing border and trade infrastructure, the nine-point roadmap lays the foundation for sustain growth in Canadian productivity for future generations.

"A continued strong, balanced fiscal policy is essential," said Barry Lacombe, President of the CSPA. "The CSPA recommends that the Government continue with its sound fiscal policy, achieving balanced budgets or better over the fiscal planning period."

Within the overall fiscal framework there are challenges that need to be addressed and choices that need to be made. The choices made will affect, either positively or negatively in both the short and long run, Canada's economic and productivity performance, essential for funding social and other programs and for improving the living standards of Canadians. "Too much weight has been placed on spending and too little on ensuring a competitive tax system and on stimulating productivity enhancing measures through the tax system," said Lacombe. "Tax measures have been put off well into the future. In the meantime, the productivity gap and in turn the standard of living gap between Canada and the US continues to grow." (Canada NewsWire Ltd.)