NEWS:

MPP Lisa MacLeod and MPP Steve Clark visited Kingston today to outline how Dalton McGuinty's greedy $3 billion HST tax grab is having a negative impact on the real estate markets.

According to The Canadian Real Estate Association home sales activity declined 8 per cent in Ontario due to the introduction of the HST.  While the Ontario Real Estate Association reports a decline of unit sales in Kingston by 33 per cent in the month of July compared to last year.

Ontario families already struggling will have to pay more in home inspections, real estate commissions, title insurance and legal fees.  At every step of the way, the Ontario PC Caucus has stood up and opposed this massive tax grab.

QUOTES:

"Buying a home is the largest single investment that most of us will make in our lifetime.  Dalton McGuinty's HST tax grab is making buying a home simply unaffordable for many Ontario families."

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

"These additional taxes could make the cost of buying a home - particularly for first time buyers - simply too expensive."

-- Steve Clark, MPP Leeds-Grenville

 QUICK FACTS:

• A recent survey of real estate agents (by Royal LePage Real Estate Services) found 86 per cent of all respondents believe the HST is having an impact on their business.
• Ontario Real Estate Association have estimated the HST will add $310 million in new taxes to 2010 residential resale real estate transactions