TAXATION

Mr. Ted Arnott: My question is for the Minister of Finance. A few minutes ago, I introduced Mark Douglas of Georgetown, Mark the painter. In a letter to Mr. Douglas, which was dated February 21, 2008, the finance minister said he wouldn’t agree to harmonizing taxes with the GST if it increased taxes, “particularly with respect to basic essentials such as home heating.” I have the letter in my hands. Why did the minister say he was opposed to HST on home heating when evidently he was not?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: The member opposite knows full well that we have a package of tax changes. I was delighted when the federal Conservative government offered $4.3 billion that allows us to implement a range of tax cuts. This will, overall, lower taxes for 93% of Ontarians. The support of Mr. Flaherty, Mr. Harper and the Conservative government has been very important, and your Conservative colleague from your riding—it has been very important to doing this.

This tax package is the right package of tax changes. It will lower taxes for 93% of Ontarians. I know the member doesn’t want to acknowledge this is supported by the federal Conservatives. It is, and they know that this is the right package of tax changes that will lower taxes for people like your constituents, overall.

We’re moving forward. It’s about jobs. It’s about a brighter future for all Ontarians.

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary? Mr. Ted Arnott: Well, evidently the minister thinks this is about the HST, but

really it’s a matter of whether you can trust the minister’s words. He said in clear, unqualified terms that he wouldn’t allow an HST to tax home heating, but his HST applies to home heating. The Premier said he believed in public hearings, but he does not. He also said that untendered contracts would stop, but they have not. Why do the McGuinty Liberals keep saying things they do not mean?

Hon. Dwight Duncan: And here is what the member for Wellington–Halton Hills said on March 11 this year: “They must follow the advice they sought from Roger Martin.” And do you know what his advice was? To harmonize the HST.

You know what Mr. Klees said? He said: “No one can argue with wanting a more simplified tax process. I think we all support that.”

And what did your leader say? Here’s what your leader said: “To be clear, I believe that there’s little sense in allowing two separate governments to apply two separate sets of taxes and policies and collect two separate groups of sales tax.” That was April of this year.

I would say to your constituent that this party has a clear, consistent position—that is, to implement this tax reform package to create jobs for all Ontarians and to make a better future for everyone. That party and its leader have been all over the map. They used to support it and now they don’t—

The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Thank you. New question.