The Provincial Liberal government has spent weeks now trying to convince the fine people of Ontario that the HST (affectionally referred to as the DST – Dalton Sales Tax – by the Tories) is a great idea. They want us to believe that it will do wonderful and fantastic things for the Province. They’ve done their best to convince us that it will create jobs and the benefits will be far reaching.
If this is indeed true, then why is it that the Liberals rammed this tax through the legislature as quickly as possible, and refused any and all requests by the other parties for public hearings on this wonderful, amazing, life altering tax that is for the greater good of all of us? Well… because even the Liberals know that Ontario voters would never stand for such a blatant government cash grab. If people were given the chance to speak, I am convinced that people would send a loud and clear message informing Mr. McGuinty of exactly where he can stick his new tax.
For those of you that have not followed along with the developing story of the HST, here is your wake up call, albeit it, too late to make a difference. This tax is coming in July and we’re stuck with it, at the very least, until the next provincial election in 2011. Hopefully by then people will have educated themselves and decided to use their vote to speak.
People like you and I don’t always have a chance to have a voice when it comes to issues of government. As evidenced by the HST, politicians will force things through without giving a second thought to the concerns of the very people it affects. So every 4 years we have the ability to speak. We have the privilege to speak. We are given a vote. It saddens me how many people cast this privilege aside as a waste of time or an inconvenience. The excuses for doing so are as vast as the very land in which we live. Each of them is unacceptable.
Take a look at the “price of progress” as this new tax is being deemed. After you’ve done so; after you’ve had a chance to see just how deeply this will affect you and your family, I want you to mark October 6, 2011 on your calendar. That will be our next chance to speak with our vote. I hope you will join me in speaking loud and clear!
THE PRICE OF PROGRESS?
What will be subjected to the new sales tax
- Gasoline
- Utilities (heating/hydro/natural gas)
- Internet bills
- Magazines
- Adult footwear under $30
- Admissions under $4 (e.g., swimming pool, skating rink)
- Veterinary care
- Personal services (e.g., hair stylist, massage)
- Professional services (e.g., legal, accountant, mutual fund fees)
- Membership fees (e.g., gym)
- New homes over $400,000
- Real estate commissions
- Commercial property rentals
- Condominium Fees
- Landscaping
- Vitamins
- Most admissions to live theatres
- Taxi fares
- Conferences and seminars
- Dry cleaning
- Carpet cleaning
- Labour costs related to home renovation
- Motor vehicle services (towing, car washing)
- Ice rink rental
- Hotels
- Overnight summer camps
- Domestic air travel
- Domestic rail travel
- Bus tickets
- Christmas trees
- Electrical and plumbing services
- Snowplowing
- Bicycles
- Funeral costs
- Postal stamps and courier fees
- Green fees
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