Dalton McGuinty plans a ‘taxing’ 2010 for Ontario families
December 30th, 2009
2010 will be an even more taxing year for Ontario families already struggling to make ends meet under Dalton McGuinty’s government.
This year, Dalton McGuinty plans to impose the single largest sales tax increase in Ontario, which is the latest in a long series of tax and fee increases imposed since 2003.
Ontario families have been paying more and getting less under McGuinty. Since 2003, taxes and fees that have increased or been introduced under McGuinty include:
* corporate income tax
* personal income tax
* seniors’ property tax
* driver’s license renewals
* taxes on beer, wine and spirits
* new land transfer tax and vehicle registration fees in Toronto
* chiropractic services
* eye exams
* physiotherapy services
* electronics recycling
* tire recycling
* commercial vehicle operators registration (CVOR) license
McGuinty also introduced the largest income tax increase in Ontario history with his crippling “health tax” which has seen a typical two income household pay $720 more per year since it was introduced in 2003. Sadly, those dollars fueled waste and scandal like eHealth and OLG.
Today’s Liberal ‘tax package’ sales pitch is in stark contrast to their record of historic tax hikes including increases to corporate and small business taxes which have killed jobs. After six years in government, the pattern of hiking taxes to fuel runaway spending, scandals and waste is clear.
QUOTES
“Dalton McGuinty’s HST sales pitch is just an empty promise to hand back some of his previous tax-hikes in order to divert people’s attention from his plans to impose his next one.”
– Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak
“It does not matter how many pretty bows Dalton McGuinty ties around the HST. This $3 billion tax grab is another tax that Ontario families simply cannot afford.”
– Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak
QUICK FACTS
- The McGuinty Liberals passed the largest income tax increase in Ontario’s history (the so-called ‘health tax’) after cancelling personal income tax cuts from the 2003 PC Budget. The health tax takes more money from Ontarians’ wallets than the land transfer tax, tobacco tax, and fuel tax combined. Even if they were to follow through on their so-called ‘tax package’, the middle tax bracket rate would still be 3.4% higher than when the Liberals came to office.
- The McGuinty Liberals increased small business taxes by 37.5% since coming to office. Even if they were to follow through on their so-called ‘tax package’, small businesses will still be paying 12.5% more in increased taxes from when the Liberals came to office.
- The HST will impact gasoline prices and negate so-called ‘tax package’ savings. A Ford F150 with one fill up a week will cost approximately $472 extra in HST per year and a Toyota Camry with one fill up a week will cost approximately $290 extra in HST per year. After the onetime bribe, Ontario families will be left short-changed.
- The HST is the merger of the PST and GST into one tax, which means the 8% PST will be applied to a whole new range of goods and services previously not subject to PST. The HST will force Ontario seniors and families to pay 8% more for nondiscretionary items like hydro, home heating fuel, natural gas, haircuts, gasoline, home renovation and repairs, funerals, lawn maintenance, and snow removal.
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