NEWS:
Today marks the beginning of Seniors Month. It also marks the one-month countdown until Dalton McGuinty’s HST tax grab begins punishing seniors who are already struggling to make ends meet.
The HST will devastate seniors on fixed incomes who will be forced to pay 8% more for nondiscretionary items like hydro, home heating fuel, natural gas, haircuts, gasoline, home renovation and repairs, mutual fund fees, estate planning and snow removal.
This is just the latest sign that seniors are an afterthought to Dalton McGuinty. Wait lists for long-term care beds have doubled since he became Premier and seniors are disproportionately hurt by Dalton McGuinty’s plans to close rural Emergency Rooms and cut frontline pharmacy care.
QUOTES
“The HST is a tax on seniors, their financial security and their peace of mind. Only Dalton McGuinty could be so out-of-touch that he would force seniors to pay for his spending addiction.” -- Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak
“Our seniors have worked hard their entire lives and many now live on fixed incomes. Instead of being punished by Dalton McGuinty’s HST, they deserve a real break.” -- Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak
QUICK FACTS
A partial list of the goods and services used by seniors that will skyrocket in price with the HST include:
- Hydro
- Home heating fuel
- Natural gas
- Gasoline
- Vitamins
- Financial advisory services
- Mutual fund fees
- Condo fees
- Retirement & nursing home costs
- Home Care
- Air plane tickets
- Funerals and estate planning costs
- Home renovation & repairs
- Lawn maintenance
- Snow removal
- Golf green and driving range fees
- Bicycles and bicycle safety equipment
- Gym memberships
- Train tickets
A recent CARP study confirmed that over 72% of seniors “Oppose Ontario and B.C. harmonizing their sales taxes with the GST, while 58.2% believe that the HST will not be good for the Canadian economy.”
CONTACT:
Christine Bujold | 416-325-1330|
christine.bujold@pc.ola.org
