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| For Immediate Release McGuinty Budget Costs Taxpayers QUEEN’S PARK – The McGuinty government’s budget that was unveiled today will result in significant costs to Ontarians said Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford. “The reality of the harmonized sales tax is that it will put an 8% increase on a huge number of items that were previously exempt from provincial sales tax,” said Hardeman. “This means that Ontarians will pay 8% more to heat their homes, 8% more to fuel their cars and 8% more on items they use every day.” During the budget speech the Minister of Finance acknowledged that the tax “will mean price increases”. Some of the items that will have an 8% increase include electricity, internet, cable, cell phones, as well as services like haircuts and vets bills. The increase will apply to almost any item that had GST, but was not subject to provincial sales tax. “The government is trying to bribe people by promising to send rebates cheques to taxpayers who qualify, but the people of Oxford are smart enough to understand that these one time cheques won’t make up for a significant and ongoing costs in the products they use every day,” said Hardeman. The budget included announcement of a $14.1 billion deficit, the largest in Ontario’s history. The provincial debt now stands at over $200 billion, almost double the $111 billion it was when McGuinty took office. “Instead of using the revenues in the good times to ensure our province was strong and fiscally sound Dalton McGuinty dramatically increased government spending and waste,” said Hardeman. “Now that the province is facing fiscal challenges he is dumping the costs on taxpayers at a time when they can least afford them.” - 30 - For more information, contact: |
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