Peter in the Media

Shurman encourages Ontario families to enjoy the long weekend before the HST hits

For immediate release:

May 22, 2010

MPP, Peter Shurman Encourages Ontario Families to Enjoy Long Weekend Before New Liberal Tax Kicks In

As of July 1, 2010, Liberal HST applied to holidays in Ontario

?Dalton McGuinty?s HST tax grab will make it more expensive to drive a car, buy an airline ticket, or stay in a hotel anywhere in Ontario. So, enjoy your last HST-free holiday while you have the chance.?

-- {Peter Shurman, PC MPP for Thornhill}

?The HST will make it more expensive for parents to enroll their children in sports or plan that long overdue family vacation. Dalton McGuinty?s HST tax grab is a tax on families, fitness and fun.?

-- {Peter Shurman, PC MPP for Thornhill}

Shurman fights for autistic children's rights

Tories chastise minister for taxing autistic children

Caledon Citizen Staff Reporter

Shurman noted that he?s hearing from parents of autistic children and IBI therapy providers in his riding who are deeply concerned about what the additional cost of the HST on IBI therapy will mean for autistic children. An IBI therapy provider has indicated that families are already limiting the number of hours of IBI therapy for their children by what they can currently afford to pay.

?Making them pay another eight per cent in HST will only force them to cut back those hours even further,? Shurman remarked. ?In the words of one parent from my riding,

?Taxing autistic children is immoral.?

Shurman excluded from Israel trade mission despite having the largest Jewish population in Ontario

McGuinty goes to Israel to boost trade

May 21, 2010

Robert Benzie - Toronto Star

Progressive Conservative MPP Peter Shurman, said while he?s pleased McGuinty is going to Israel, he was ?terribly disappointed? opposition MPPs were not able to join the delegation that includes Liberals David Zimmer (Willowdale), Monte Kwinter (York Centre), Mike Colle (Eglinton-Lawrence), Economic Development and Trade Minister Sandra Pupatello, and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Eric Hoskins.

Shurman, whose Thornhill riding is 38 per cent Jewish, said allowing Tory and New Democrat members on the trip would have sent a positive, non-partisan signal of Ontario?s eagerness to do business in Israel.

Shurman pressures government to justify HST to Ontario

HST debate dominates legislature

By DAN PELTON Staff Reporter

Last week, she joined fellow PC MPP Peter Shurman (Thornhill) in condemning imposition of the HST on parents of autistic children who pay for Intensive Behavioral Intervention (IBI) provided by unlicensed personnel.

?It kills small business and buys the guns that kill innocent people.? Shurman, MPP.

HST concerns shop owners, MPP

By Kim Zarzour - YorkRegion.com

May 19, 2010

 The HST will add 8 per cent to the cost of tobacco products starting July 1 and drive more smokers to buy cheaply priced illegal cigarettes, said Dave Bryans, President of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association. Nearly half of all tobacco sales in Ontario is controlled by organized crime groups, he added.

 The association, and Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman, are calling on the province to hold the line on cigarette taxes until the contraband tobacco problem is under control.

 ?Minister, put HST on legal cigarettes and you are putting money in the pockets of organized crime,? Mr. Shurman, PC Critic for Economic Development and Trade, said during Question Period Tuesday. ?It kills small business and buys the guns that kill innocent people.?

'They got it all wrong on the Green Energy Act,' Peter Shurman, MPP-Thornhill

McGuinty wants Ontario to export water technologies, not bulk water

The Canadian Press

However, the Progressive Conservatives said they suspected the new legislation would drive up water bills for homeowners, noting the Liberals' Green Energy Act has driven up electricity bills much higher than the one per cent the government predicted.

"I would anticipate the worst," said Opposition critic Peter Shurman.

"They got it wrong on the Green Energy Act, and we're paying the price already. I think the same thing is a reasonable assumption when it comes to water."

'Contraband cigarettes puts money back in the pockets of organized criminals,' Peter Shurman, MPP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 18, 2010

Ontarians Pay HST and Organized Crime Profits

?Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair has told me that organized crime controls contraband tobacco, which now makes up 50% of the cigarettes consumed in Ontario. The convenience store owners are asking the McGuinty Liberals to hold the line on taxes on cigarettes until the contraband tobacco problem is under control,? Shurman said.

?Minister, put HST on legal cigarettes and you are putting money in the pockets of organized crime. It kills small business and buys the guns that kill innocent people,? stated Peter Shurman.

Press Conference Sponsored by MPP turning heads

New tax linked to boost in organized crime: MPP

By Kim Zarzour

May 17, 2010

The PC Critic for Economic Development and Trade told a press conference at Queen's Park today that the 8 per cent HST will drive up prices on tobacco products, making illegal, untaxed tobacco - trafficked by organized crime - cheaper and more appealing to youth.

"Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair has told me that contraband tobacco is the stock and trade of organized crime, and the money it generates is used to buy the guns and drugs that are threatening our neighbourhoods," Mr. Shurman said. "When you add another 8 per cent tax to legal cigarettes July 1, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what that's going to do."

Mr. Shurman was hosting the press conference during which members of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association delivered a 4,000-name petition calling on the McGuinty government to invoke temporary measures to prevent the diversion of sales to contraband.

MPP Sponsors Press Conference for OCSA regarding HST and Contraband Cigarettes

HST may push smokers to buy contraband butts

By Antonella Artuso, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU CHIEF - Toronto Sun

Tory MPP Peter Shurman said the ill-gotten profits are fuelling the guns and drug activities of organized crime.

?If you increase the profit from contraband tobacco, which the HST will surely do starting on July 1, you will see a direct increase in the drugs and guns on our streets,? he said.

Shurman accused the Liberal government of ignoring the problem of contraband cigarettes despite evidence from the Ontario Auditor General that the province has lost $500 million in tobacco tax revenue.

Provincial taxes on cigarettes under the Dalton McGuinty government have gone up by 25%, he noted.

McGuinty Government hits Autistic Children with HST - Shurman Stands Strong for Their Rights!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 13, 2010

Tories Chastise Minister for Taxing Autistic Children

Shurman and Jones say HST on Intensive Behavioural Intervention Therapy is immoral

Shurman noted that he is hearing from parents of autistic children and IBI therapy providers in his riding who are deeply concerned about what the additional cost of the HST on IBI therapy will mean for autistic children. An IBI therapy provider has indicated that families are already limiting the number of hours of IBI therapy for their children by what they can currently afford to pay.

?Making them pay another 8% in HST will only force them to cut back those hours even further. In the words of one parent from my riding, ?Taxing autistic children is immoral? shared Peter Shurman.