OTTAWA, Ont. — Restoring the meal tax deduction to 80 from the current 50 per cent mark is one recommendation in the Canadian Trucking Alliance’s (CTA) 2001 pre-budget proposal to the feds.

The package contains five recommendations, including the leveraging of provinces, municipalities and the private sector in accelerated and strategic infrastructure spending in return for of participation in federal standards — such as the National Safety Code.

Also sought by the fleet group is the restructuring of excise tax on motor fuels, as it has no policy purpose other than to raise general revenues.

Accelerated capital cost allowances to encourage the introduction of newer engines and lower tax rates on ultra low sulphur diesel also made the list. As did a plea to the federal government to continue working with CTA and the provincial governments to reach a comprehensive solution to the double taxation problem created by U.S. State franchise taxes, for which no tax credit is available in Canada.

The budgetary suggestions were delivered to the Commons Standing Committee on Finance two weeks ago.