Excerpts from press release: The Stephen Harper government needs to give up its tax cut addiction and invest in solutions to pressing problems facing Canadians, says the 2008 Alternative Federal Budget (AFB), released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. AFB 2008 calls the minority government on its irresponsible $190 billion tax cut giveaway (made in two short years) and presents a budget that addresses environmental and economic sustainability &em; without plunging Canada into a fiscal deficit. "Our budget tackles climate change and confronts the financial insecurity many Canadians struggle with. It will make it easier for Canadians to get to work each day and give better opportunities to our children. In other words, we address things this government chooses to ignore," says CCPA Senior Economist Marc Lee. The AFB is coordinated by the CCPA and is the result of collaborative deliberations by representatives of a wide spectrum of civil society organizations. It puts Canadians' long-term interests ahead of short-term political gain, ensuring our national investments benefit the majority and strengthen our nation economically as well as socially. See section 1.2 on page 32 for Child Care and Early Learning. "In addition to being a key component of the eventual achievement of quality for women in the workforce, child care investment and services are key to the social and economic security of all Canadians." "Child care requires a secure and adequate source of federal funding, so legislation will be combined with significant investments in ELCC services through a dedicated child care social transfer."