89.3 Reduction of Federal Government Debt
[Whereas,] Rationale: The debt level produced by annual government deficits poses a serious threat to the efficient management of the Canadian economy. Increasing costs of paying interest on the national debt reduces our present and future ability to finance social and other needed programmes. The standard of living of Canadians cannot be expected to increase at the expense of the next generation. And so far, government efforts to control the deficit have had a very limited success.
[RESOLVED,] NCWC urges the Government of Canada:
1) to bring the deficit under control in order to reduce high interest payments, including immediately reducing the Government’s operational spending by 15 percent (1989-90 budget), consistent with the reduction of 15 percent in the core funding for Women’s groups;
2) To undertake widespread consultation to develop spending priorities for future government expenditures;
3) To ensure that the cost of deficit reduction not be borne by those least able to bear the cost;
4) To reassure Canadians that the universality of Medicare will remain intact.