This was an important week at Queen?s Park. The McGuinty government tabled its first budget of its second, and final, term in office.
The McGuinty government had an opportunity to present a budget that would take positive, strategic measures to revitalize the health of Ontario?s economy and provide reassurance to Ontarians worried about where their next paycheque will come from. Instead, the government opted to present a budget that leads Ontario?s economy further down the wrong path, leaves Ontario?s business taxes as the highest in the country, and ignores all warnings provided by leading economists. This budget is a return to the tired, old Liberal politics of ?tax and spend? at a time when we can least afford it.
The McGuinty government crows that they have $5 billion in ?unexpected revenue?. That?s McGuinty Liberal code for what they should really have said: that they over taxed you, the residents of Thornhill, and our friends across the province, by $5 billion! That?s roughly $390 for each of Ontario?s 12,800,000 residents.
What could YOU have used that extra money for? Perhaps you could have put it towards your child?s education, your retirement, or maybe you could have put it towards some household repairs?
Now, let me ask you this: can you tell me what we?re getting for the $390 we were each overtaxed? Are you able to see a doctor more quickly? Are surgery waiting lists any shorter because of the supposed Health Tax we pay? Are you able to spend more time with your family because gridlock and commute times are getting better? Of course, the answer to each of these questions is a resounding, ?NO!?
Ontario?s economy and our standard of living are in a period of great risk. However, like an ostrich, the McGuinty government is content to have its collective head buried in the sand and ignore the reality Ontarians must live with every day. The residents of Thornhill and Ontario deserve better, and they deserve their $390 back!