(Nepean, ON) - Proof that an 8% tax hike on items ranging from flowers at funerals to fuel for our cars and home heating is a tough sell on the barbecue circuit, the provincial Liberals are spending big bucks to try and calm the fears of Liberal MPPs who are offside with the government's $2.5 Billion HST tax grab, or Dalton Sales Tax, by commissioning a poll.

"The fact that Mr. McGuinty has to sell this tax to his own caucus with an expensive poll shows there are lots of nervous nellies in the Liberal backbenches," said PC Revenue Critic Lisa MacLeod. "Liberal MPPs don't need an expensive poll to tell them what the rest of us have been hearing since March, and that's Ontarians can't afford another Liberal tax hike."   MacLeod also urged the Liberals to come clean with the polling data they are relying on to sell the tax internally. "Will the Liberals release their polling data to public?  Surely, if the Liberal leadership is prepared to stand behind the poll they're showing to MPPs, they will share it with Ontarians who overwhelming disapprove of their plan to grab $2.5 billion more in taxes on everyday items like coffee, gas, newspapers and home heating."   The HST or Dalton Sales Tax, which takes affect on Canada Day 2010 will merge the PST with the GST for a 13% tax.

MacLeod and the Ontario PC Caucus are calling on all Ontarians to join them in the fight to stop the Dalton Sales Tax, by signing a petition to show the Liberals that they oppose this massive tax grab.

For a full list of items that will be taxed and to sign the petition, visit www.daltonsalestax.com or on join the Stop the Dalton Sales Tax facebook group.

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