Prince George, BC – As Parliament resumes in Ottawa today, the National Citizens Coalition is calling on the federal government to keep its eye on the ball…

NCC President Peter Coleman says, "The number one priority simply must remain the economy."  Coleman is urging the government to carry through on its promises to reduce spending immediately.

He says there have been numerous calls from opposition MPs and special interest groups in recent weeks for billions of dollars in new spending and the coalition is concerned such spending would derail Canada’s economic recovery.

NCC Director Stephen Taylor says with this year’s deficit likely to tip the scales at $31-billion dollar, the government has pledged to find more than $4-billion each year in efficiences and reduced spending.  "If they hope to do this," says Taylor, "They will have to make some real structural changes instead of just nominal spending freezes – and they will need to make them quickly."

The coalition says spending freezes are not enough, it wants the Harper Government to reduce the size of the bureaucracy and eliminate unnecessary or redundant goverment departments. 

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is in the midst of his pre-budget consultations, but has said the 2012 budget will not include any risky spending schemes that would increase deficits and taxes.