By Caroline Grech
Vaughan council’s request for the provincial government to remove the HST from hydro bills has the approval of at least one member of the legislature.
“I was thrilled that my municipal colleagues took this strong a position, which says, in essence, that the people of Vaughan cannot take these wallet-gouging costs anymore,” Thornhill Conservative MPP Peter Shurman said.
At its Dec. 14 council meeting, Concord/North Thornhill Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco brought forward the idea to request that Premier Dalton McGuinty and Energy Minister Brad Duguid alleviate some of the pressure on homeowners by removing the tax.
The Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) took effect July 1, 2010 in Ontario and is applied to most purchases and transactions.
The 13 per cent HST replaces the federal goods and services tax (GST) and the provincial sales tax (PST).
Vaughan councillors have heard from residents that their high hydro bills are a major concern.
Council’s recommendation also asks the premier and energy minister to ensure any future increases do not exceed the rate of inflation.