Nepean-Carleton MPP, Lisa MacLeod, Ontario PC Critic for Revenue and Government Accountability, was at the Lynwood Park Lodge Retirement Residence in Ottawa today to highlight how Dalton McGuinty's greedy $3 billion HST tax grab hurts seniors.

The Lynwood Park Lodge provides services for Ontario seniors, helping residents lead active and healthy lifestyles. They provide meals, housekeeping, laundry, help with medication, personal care, and companionship. This helps keep seniors out of hospital beds and off waiting lists for long term care beds.

Adding another eight per cent onto the cost of care facilities makes it harder for seniors on fixed incomes and their families to be able to afford to stay in retirement residences. This will mean more seniors will have to turn to hospital beds and end up on the wait-list for long-term care beds.

QUOTES:

"Retirement residences help seniors to continue to live independent and active lifestyles while keeping them out of hospitals and off wait lists for long term care beds. It makes no sense to tax someone into a hospital, but that is exactly what the HST does."

-- Lisa MacLeod, MPP, Ontario PC Revenue and Government Accountability Critic

"Seniors who need extra assistance/ services to stay independent are finding it very difficult financially. They are opting out of paying for the services and therefore struggling at home.  Their health and welfare will suffer, putting a strain on the health care field."

-- Lisa MacLeod, MPP, Ontario PC Revenue and Government Accountability Critic

QUICK FACTS:

• There are 3,400 Eastern Ontario seniors who are in line for nursing-home beds (Ottawa Citizen, June 18, 2010).

• Wait lists for long-term care beds have doubled since Dalton McGuinty became Premier.

• Seniors will be forced to pay 8% more for items like hydro, home heating fuel, natural gas, haircuts, gasoline, home renovation and repairs, mutual fund fees, estate planning and snow removal.