The Truth Cannot Be Hidden

Although the McGuinty government has tried its best to muddy the facts, the HST is relatively straightforward. It is a tax shift – business taxes are being reduced while consumer taxes go up. This tax shift will result in consumers paying upwards of $7-billion more each year, depending on whether businesses pass on their savings
or not. Those who responded to CARP’s survey do not think savings will be passed on – they probably remember the same promises were made when the GST was introduced!

The McGuinty government points to sales tax harmonization in Atlantic Canada as evidence that there will be no impact on consumer prices. But the government conveniently fails to mention that the Atlantic provinces actually LOWERED  their sales tax rate when adopting the HST.

One of the other claims is that the HST will boost job creation. Ontario has lost more nthan 300,000 jobs since 2003. Cities like Toronto, Sudbury, Windsor and London have unemployment rates of more than 10 per cent.

Workers in these cities need proven job creation policies, not a new tax on daily basics.

Even the Ontario Chamber of Commerce – the biggest supporter of the government’s plan – admits the HST will “slow employment growth by between 10 and 40 thousand jobs . . . as businesses substitute capital for labour in the production of
goods and services.”

So what’s in this tax for ordinary Ontarians? You will be paying eight per cent more on hundreds, if not thousands, of goods and services. The McGuinty government’s tax shift will result in consumers paying billions more without
even any new investments in public services, like healthcare and education. It will slow job growth and help keep consumer confidence in a rut.

The McGuinty HST is bad for Ontario because it is bad for Ontarians. You can count on the NDP to fight against its implementation, but we need your help. Get involved in our campaign by visiting www.unfairtaxgrab.com where you can join the 70,000 Ontarians who have already signed our petition against this unfair tax grab.


http://www.carp.ca