In its list of federal budget demands released Sunday, the NDP calls on the federal government to “give middle class families a break.”

In a press release, the Official Opposition said the Conservatives need to “change direction” in their next budget, to create a fiscal plan that benefits all Canadians – not just the richest.

"It's time for the minister of finance to stop panicking and get to work on a budget that makes the economy work for Canadians, not another Conservative budget focused on helping the privileged few," said NDP finance critic Nathan Cullen.

The NDP also called on the Conservatives to scrap their income-splitting plan and reverse provincial health care budget cuts.

The party’s budget demands come days after Finance Minister Joe Oliver announced thatthe federal government won’t table its next budget until April, at the earliest. Oliver said the government needs more time to examine how badly oil prices will affect the Canadian economy.

In a letter to Oliver, Cullen highlighted the need to support middle-class families who are struggling with skyrocketing household debt, affordable child care, and access to the care they need as seniors. He specifically attacked Harper’s income-splitting plan, which would allow families with children under 18 to divide their incomes in order to reduce their taxes.

"Stephen Harper’s solution is to take billions from the middle class and give it to the wealthiest 15%. This is wrong."

The NDP made a number of demands for this year’s budget:

  • Scrap the “wasteful” income splitting plan and implement NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair’s plan to reduce childcare costs to $15 a day.
  • Give small businesses that create jobs a break and take urgent action to address youth unemployment “crisis.”
  •  Reverse Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s plan to cut $36 billion from provincial health care budgets and work to reduce wait times.
  • Return Old Age Security eligibility to 65years old.
  • Build the economy by working with companies to create “sustainable clean jobs” and ensure polluters pay the cost of their “environmental mess.”