http://www.thestar.com/article/660243

Reposted from the Star

Robert Benzie

Queen’s Park Bureau Chief

Premier Dalton McGuinty will retreat from some of the more punishing aspects of the harmonized sales tax if enough Ontarians protest, says Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak.

With the new 13 per cent levy less than a year away, Hudak, who won the Tory leadership on Saturday, said taxpayers have to take a stand if they want McGuinty to relent.

“I’m convinced that by putting pressure on Dalton McGuinty we can get him to return to character – he’s a notorious flip-flopper and I’m convinced we can get him to back down,” he said yesterday.

Standing in a midtown park against the backdrop of apartment towers to illustrate that tenants could face higher rents because the HST will raise the cost of heating and services, Hudak urged Ontario voters to rally against the tax by signing an electronic petition at daltonsalestax.com. “We’re going to put 100 per cent of our energies into stopping this tax in the first place. I’m not going to give any quarter to Dalton McGuinty on this,” he said, noting it will be especially difficult for Ontario’s 4 million renters. “The more people hear about it, the angrier they get. It’s crazy to do it in a recession.”

Hudak wouldn’t say if he’d repeal the tax should the Tories topple the Liberals in the 2011 election.

“I’m not convinced it’s actually going to be there in 2011,” he said. “Our game plan (is) … to stop this tax before it even starts.”

Beginning July 1, 2010, the 8 per cent provincial sales tax will be melded with the 5 per cent federal goods and services tax, raising levies on scores of goods and services, including heating fuel, gasoline, newspapers, fast-food value meals and funerals. While the Tory leader heaped scorn on McGuinty’s Liberals, he was careful not to criticize Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government, which gave Ontario $4.3 billion to harmonize the taxes.

Revenue Minister John Wilkinson wasn’t available yesterday, but last week he indicated the government has no plans to scrap a tax it sees as essential to helping business in Ontario.

“We need to move to a world where we are taxing income and savings less. To pay for that, we’re going to tax consumption more, but that’s what they do in 130 countries around the world,” Wilkinson said after being sworn in June 24 as McGuinty’s HST point man.

Wilkinson pointed out 93 per cent of Ontarians will get income tax cuts and most people will receive HST rebate cheques of up to $1,000 over the next two years.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, who has promised to eliminate the tax if she becomes premier, suggested last week the HST could even be bad for Ontario’s health.

That’s because tax on bicycles and helmets will increase from current 5 per cent GST to 13 per cent HST. “Today, more children than ever are obese, many illnesses can be directly attributed to air pollution and heart disease is a leading cause of death in adults,” she said last week. “The McGuinty Liberals should be encouraging people to get on their bikes, not punishing them.”

Just when we thought Dalton McGuinty couldn’t make things any harder for Ontario families, he is going to hike your taxes again with the HST, the ‘Harmonized Sales Tax.’

The Harmonized Sales Tax means an extra 8% tax on dozens of items. It will hurt Ontario families when they can least afford it.  But what does the HST mean to you, the taxpayers?

It will cost more to fill up your car.

It will cost more to heat your home.

It will cost more for your internet and cell phone.

It will cost more to rent an apartment or buy a new home.

Dalton McGuinty has stuck his hand into the pocket of taxpayers deep enough and his latest tax grab needs to be stopped.  Ontario families deserve a tax break, not a tax hike.

http://www.daltonsalestax.com/petition/

I urge you to sign petitions and have your voices heard.  This is the GST all over again for Ontario, a double whammy.   Mark my words, the Liberal government has a game plan.  They are already prepared to lower the tax rate or make large concessions, but continue with the HST.   This will be there way of increasing taxes and make themselves look like heroes because the caved.   We Ontarians should stop at nothing to reverse the HST before it starts.   If the HST is introduced to Ontario we will all be paying significantly more taxes then anyone else in the country.

Strikes seem to work for the greedy unions in this country.  We should start a strike or protest.  Find a way to refuse pay provincial sales tax on anything.  This means stop buying in Ontario, refuse to pay the PST, or pay cash.

You have not heard the last of me on this subject!