For immediate release:
October 13, 2010
Families Beware: Dalton McGuinty’s Eco Tax Grab Not Gone for Good
NEWS:
QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario PC Critic for Economic Development and Trade Peter Shurman, MPP Thornhill, warned today it’s still too early for families and businesses to celebrate the McGuinty Liberals’ latest back track on their eco tax grab. Dalton McGuinty and his Minister’s claims of making the program “simpler” and “easier” for families is just another way of saying they will find a way to hide it and bury it in the future where families won’t find it.
From the time he took office, Dalton McGuinty has established a clear pattern of backtracking on
his promises to not raise taxes. While Dalton McGuinty promised not to raise taxes in both the 2003 and 2007 provincial election campaigns, he is responsible for the largest income tax increase (the so-called Health Tax) and the largest sales tax hike (his HST tax grab) in Ontario’s history.
Dalton McGuinty has yet to come clean on the next round of eco taxes – as laid out in a Ministry of Environment report titled From Waste to Worth – that suggests, among other things, placing an eco tax on cars.
QUOTES:
“Make no mistake, the eco tax was Dalton McGuinty’s personal creation and brainchild. When he says he wants to create a simpler and easier program for families, it just means he will find a way to bury it where families won’t notice they’re paying for it.”
--Peter Shurman, MPP Thornhill and Ontario PC Critic for Economic Development and Trade
“There is just one way to be sure Dalton McGuinty’s eco tax doesn’t return from the dumps where it belongs, and that’s to elect a PC government in 2011. We will give families the break they deserve.”
--Peter Shurman, MPP Thornhill and Ontario PC Critic for Economic Development and Trade
QUICK FACTS:
Dalton McGuinty personally pushed for the eco tax as early as a February 2008 Liberal cabinet meeting, even against the wishes of senior cabinet ministers. “We can’t do this fast enough,” countered McGuinty (Toronto Star, August 4, 2010).
During a July 27, 2010 press conference in Trenton, Dalton McGuinty said he "loves'' the idea of returning recyclables back to retailers (a strategy that forced retailers to pass on the eco tax). "But we can't get there right away.” (The Trentonian, July 28, 2010).
Page 23 of the Ministry of Environment’s report titled From Waste to Worth outlines a proposed rollout for new items to be included in the eco tax program over the next five years, including vehicles.
CONTACT: Pema Lhalungpa | 416-325-9347 | pema.lhalungpa@pc.ola.org