Ontario Facing 13% Tax on July 1st

For Immediate Release                                                                                     December 9^th, 2009

(Queen's Park)- The Liberals used their massive majority to ram through their $3 billion tax grab on middle class families and seniors when the HST bill passed today.

PC Revenue Critic, Lisa MacLeod, said “it has been clear since the Liberals announced their intentions to implement a $3 billion tax grab that we would oppose it every step of the way, and we promised Ontarians that we would be their voice in the HST debate.”

The Harmonized Sales Tax which takes effect on July 1st, 2010 will raise consumption taxes to 13% on home heating, fuel, snow removal, haircuts and several more items, totaling an average increase in taxes for Ontario families and seniors of at least $1,100 a year.

“The Liberals used their numbers to ram this $3 Billion tax grab through, but I’m proud that for every promise the PC Caucus made, we kept,” said MacLeod.

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Quick Facts:

• On December 7^th, the Liberal government walked out and cancelled the legislative committee, the one meeting where the opposition could have gone into clause-by-clause
• The PC Caucus submitted 500,000 amendments to the committee that would have the effect of exempting every single man, woman and child in Ontario from paying the HST on every single good and service produced in the province.
• On December 3^rd, during Legislative committee hearings 26 debutants expressed strong opposition to the HST, these included groups representing Ontario seniors, pensioners, condo owners, home care providers, camp ground operators, real estate agents and taxpayer advocates, less than a dozen supported the Liberal tax plan.
• Over three dozen Ontarians who wanted to come to participate in committee were shutdown
• Almost 200 Ontarians, who made written submissions in the very short period of time, were told that their voice didn’t matter by the Liberal chair.
• Liberals refused to hold public hearings on the HST in 10 communities in a 3 week period
• For a full list of items that will be taxed under the HST and for a tax calculator visit: www.daltonsalestax.com