news release - mark the painter returns
DESCRIPTION
Mark the Painter from Georgetown Ontario returns to Queen's Park to hold Ontario Liberals Accountable for promise not to harmonize GST with PST.TRANSCRIPT
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP Wellington - Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 8, 2009
Mark the Painter back at Queen’s Park for answers and apologies
(Queen’s Park) – Residential painter Mark Douglas is still waiting for an apology from the McGuinty Liberals. He received a misleading letter last year from the Finance Minister, who promised not to add to the tax burden by harmonizing the provincial sales tax (PST) with the GST. “This new tax will make it harder to do business,” said Mr. Douglas, who lives in Georgetown. “I’m extremely disappointed that this government would promise not to bring in the HST, and then do the opposite. Mr. McGuinty said he wouldn’t raise taxes—it’s just another broken promise.” After travelling to Queen’s Park in April to express his views, Mr. Douglas made another trip this week to demand the answers he has so far not received. Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott recognized Mr. Douglas during Question Period, when he called the Minister of Finance to account for his policy flip-flop. For Mr. Arnott, the Minister’s response amounts to further proof that the McGuinty Liberals simply cannot be trusted when it comes to taxes. “It’s really a matter of whether you can trust the Minister’s word,” he said. The Minister’s February 2008 letter reads as follows: “Ontario has consistently said it would not agree to harmonizing the GST if that would increase the tax burden on Ontario taxpayers, particularly with respect to basic essentials such as home heating and children’s clothing.”
- 30 - Attached: Finance Minister’s letter to Mark Douglas and Instant (Draft) Hansard, December 8 For further information: Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone 416-325-3880 Email [email protected]