More opposition for harmonized sales tax
The proposed harmonized sales tax is a $3 billion tax grab on the middle class and seniors, says Lisa McLeod.
The PC MPP for Nepean-Carleton, along with NDP MPP Michael Prue of Beaches-East York, lambasted the proposed tax at a meeting of the Police Pensioners’ Association of Ontario in Chatham.
McLeod said the tax, known in the PC Caucus as the Dalton (McGuinty) sales tax, has presented itself as a major public policy change for Ontario.
The two MPPs said more than 100,000 Ontarians have joined the fight to stop the tax from taking effect in 2010.
“It’s the wrong tax at the wrong time,” said McLeod.
She said that at a time when one would expect a government to encourage consumer confidence the proposed tax risks smothering it instead.
“While Ontarians are penny pinching, the McGuinty Liberals are nickel and diming you,” she said. “How else can you explain their decision to add an eight-per-cent tax on home heating, Internet access fees, plumber and electrician fees and cell phone bills.”
And she said that’s before leaving the house in the morning.
“Because once you step outside, there’s going to be another eight-per-cent added to your landscaping fees, snow removal and even gas for your car.”
McLeod said funeral services will also cost an additional eight per cent.
“Ont a r i o cannot afford another tax increase, not now especially with the backdrop of spending scandals at e-Health, Cancer Care Ontario, Windsor Entertainment Centre and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission.”
McLeod said that since the McGuinty Liberals have taken office, Ontario’s economy has gone from first to worst in economic growth and more than 300,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost.
The PC MPP also took her message to the local riding association during a meeting at Smitty’s Restaurant.
“We want folks to join our efforts to stop the Dalton sales tax,” she said.
McLeod said increasing its presence in Chatham-Kent is a focus for the party.
“This riding is key to victory in 2011,” she said.
Prue said hundreds of services will be taxed when the new legislation takes effect.
He said everything from newspapers and magazines to dry cleaning, rail and bus tickets will cost more when the tax is harmonized.
He said there will be a tax shift from businesses to consumers as taxes are reduced on business inputs but raised on consumers.
He said there are estimates that Ontario consumers could pay up to $7.1 billion more annually when the new tax takes effect.
“On average, that’s $1,560 per household per year,” he said.
Prue said the HST will not create jobs, despite the McGuinty government’s claim otherwise.
He said the Ontario Chamber of Commerce believes the HST will improve productivity but says that job creation will actually decline as a result.
Prue said the government will raise $2.3 billion from the HST.
“Although it sounds like a lot, it’s not, especially when we’re talking about a new tax on expenses like gasoline, hydro and real estate transactions,” he said.
Prue said the HST will mean more for everyday goods and services.
“In addition, the tax package will result in no new investment in public services like reducing healthcare service waiting times,” he said.
