The Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) is challenging the national political parties to commit to cutting taxes, paying down the debt while still reforming the health-care system and adopting other economic measures as part of its platform for the next federal government.

The challenge was made in a recent speech by CCC president Nancy Hughes Anthony to the Economic Club of Toronto.

Central to its platform, the CCC called for a three-per-cent annual cap on the growth in federal spending, income tax cuts for low- and middle-income families, further cuts on the effective rate of tax on capital and ongoing debt reduction.

Other fiscal policies include employment insurance reform, airport rent reductions and the elimination of the air travellers’ security charge.

“With our fiscal plan there will be $36.4 billion available for tax cuts over the next five years,” said Hughes Anthony. “This will still give the government over $23 billion for new spending and enable the debt to be paid down by about $20 billion during the same period.”

The CCC laid out the following business priorities for the next government:

* Health-care reform: Improve patient access by improving efficiencies; greater accountability through performance benchmarks; increased role for private-sector delivery within the publicly funded system.

* International relations: Continue trade and investment liberalization; resolution of Canada-U.S. trade disputes; fully implement Canada-U.S. border agenda; deepen Canada-U.S. economic relations; and address North American security needs.

* Revenue for municipalities: Recognize that municipalities need to secure new arrangements to diversify their revenue base and finance their ongoing needs; ensure that the overall tax burden for Canadians does not increase if a portion of the federal gas tax revenue is transferred to municipalities.

* Energy/environment: With climate change, understand the link to energy issues and the need for technology solutions over a longer period of time.

* Innovation and productivity: Boost investment in education and skills development; implement smart regulations including national securities regulator; use immigration to bring needed skills to Canada; and recognize foreign professional qualifications.