Thank you for allowing me to take part in the debate on the Dalton Sales Tax.

I notice that this motion by the Member for Willowdale is craftily worded to try and wedge those who oppose the Dalton Sales Tax.

I won’t be deterred in my assessment of his tax grab.

Indeed it is a facile, in fact farcical attempt to gain support for the Liberals’ ill conceived and horrifically timed 3 billion dollar tax grab on the middle class and on seniors.

As the Revenue Critic for the PC Party, I’m pleased to have the opportunity to focus on the line “and implement a harmonized sales tax”… and to criticize the Dalton Sales Tax for the next eight minutes.  I only wish I had more time.

Since the McGuinty Liberals have taken office, Ontario’s economy has:

·       Gone from 1^st to worst

·       Lost over 300,000 manufacturing jobs

·       For the first time since confederation Ontario is now receiving federal welfare . . we’re a have-not province

·       Our taxes are the highest they’ve been in our history and

·       Our debt and deficit are climbing at rates that would make Bob Rae Blush

This is not the time to raise taxes.

Unless of course, you are a government that cannot control your spending and you look at every hockey mom, retired police officer and granny as your personal ATM.

Indeed, while Ontarians are penny pinching, Dalton McGuinty and David Zimmer are nickel and diming them . . .. how else can you explain their decision to add an 8% tax on:

·       Home heating

·       Internet access fees

·       Plumber and electrician fees and

·       Cell phone bills

And that’s all before leaving the house in the morning.

Because once I step outside, Dalton McGuinty’s going to get me again.  He’s going to add 8% more to my:

·       Landscaping fees

·       Snow removal and

·       Even gas for my car

All that and this is before he takes 8% more from me on my mutual fund savings, my dogs veterinary bills, my Tim Horton’s coffee and even my kids sports registration.

Not only is Dalton McGuinty taxing us to death, he’s going to tax us in death . . . .funeral services are now going to increase by 8%.

And this isn’t even a complete list of what Dalton McGuinty wants to add an 8% tax to. 

For that you can go to daltonsalestax.com, sign our petition (2,000 have in the last 24 hourse) and you can even calculate how much Dalton’s going to cost you . . .conservative estimates are between 1-2 thousand dollars a year.

And what of the 1,000 bribe Dalton is offering voters before the next election?

Well that’s going to offset that health tax he brought in after he promised us he wouldn’t raise our taxes the first time.

Now, Dalton McGuinty is trying to communicate his most recent 3 billion dollar tax grab as good economic policy.

But Dalton’s deal for this sales tax is so bad, that even he doesn’t . . .or at least he didn’t  . . .agree with it.

Let me share with you Dalton McGuinty’s own words, if not for anything else but pure entertainment:

“People have had it up to here and beyond when it comes to taxes."

Dalton McGuinty, 1994, speaking to Bob Rae.

“all of the information that I have received tells me that harmonization  . . . would lead to a net increase in taxes for the Province of Ontario and for Ontarians.  There's going to be a net loss here to the Province of Ontario if we proceed with that harmonization, and that's why I will not go ahead with that.”

Dalton McGuinty, HAMILTON STATION: CliNt-AM, May 31, 1999

“Won’t do it because it’s going to come at an economic disadvantage to the Province of Ontario.  I can’t see it happening unless our taxes go up…In fact, we’ll have a net loss.  So, I’m not going to be harmonizing our taxes.”

Dalton McGuinty, CFPL-AM - June 1, 1999

There’s more, but I don’t have the time.

So, what’s changed? 

Dalton’s broke and he doesn’t want to stop spending, so he wants more from us.

And his caucus doesn’t even like it.

Just listen to this:

”If they can’t give me a 30-second sound bite on why this is a good thing to do then I’m screwed”, said one vulnerable Liberal MPP to the Toronto Star while another says in the same paper two days later:

“Voters are not stupid.  People will figure out that we’re bribing them with their own money”.  While my personal favourite quote from a Liberal MPP is

“As soon as we say we you’re going to get a cheque, the reaction we’re all getting is people are pissed.  They say Ernie Eves tried it and it inflames them even more”.

And trust me, their constituents don’t like it either.

Even Mr. Zimmer’s own constituents detest this tax. 

I received this just today,

“We have been working on sending letters to our local MPP (David Zimmer) and to Dalton McGuinty. David did visit our condominium with a member of the Finance Department …..It was not productive at all.  It showed us that the employees of the ministry are going along with Dalton's Sales tax, deceiving the public as to the fact that is helping businesses in Ontario etc.”

Mr. Zimmer, that email comes under the category of . . . .it inflames them every time.

And there’s more, but I simply haven’t the time today to read from the plethora of Ontarians about their concerns about the Dalton sales tax.

Simply, the PC Caucus will continue to lead the fight on behalf of all Ontarians to stop the Dalton Sales Tax.