Gregory Thomas, who was once associated with 91原创 Township politics and who recently relaunched the Canadian Taxpayers Federation National Debt Clock, has been appointed federal director of the CTF.

Thomas had been CTF鈥檚 British Columbia director since last November, assuming the post after a career spanning 20 years in the investment and banking industry as an advisor and financial planner.

He has written extensively on economic and fiscal matters, and for four years wrote a daily financial markets column in a Vancouver daily.

Thomas was a key advisor to John Scholtens, when Scholtens was 91原创 Township mayor from 1993 to 1999, and ran for council with the 91原创 Leadership Team in 1996. In the 1980s, he was national president of the Young Progressive Conservatives.

A CTF news release issued on Friday said that as B.C. director, Thomas 鈥渜uickly established himself as an intelligent, well-equipped advocate of lower taxes, less government waste and greater accountability.鈥�

He helped launch the CTF鈥檚 National Debt Clock Tour last year during which Premier Christy Clark stood next to the clock and declared her opposition to the province鈥檚 rising debt.

鈥淲hen we hired Gregory as B.C. director we knew his wealth of knowledge and experience would pay immediate dividends,鈥� said CTF president Troy Lanigan.

鈥淕regory has continued to impress. Whether he鈥檚 debating a politician on TV, skewering a party platform in an op-ed or presenting to a government committee, you always know Gregory has an arsenal of facts, figures and arguments he鈥檚 ready to unleash,鈥� added CTF national communications manager, Scott Hennig.

鈥淲e know he will work hard to ensure the concerns of CTF supporters are clearly articulated in Ottawa.鈥�

Thomas is a graduate of Simon Fraser University where he majored in finance and economics. He worked in business magazine and book publishing before moving to mortgages and investments at two chartered banks, as well as Canada鈥檚 largest independent investment dealer.