For immediate release:
January 29, 2010
Ontario Opposition Calls for Tax Relief, Spending Restraint
in 2010 Budget
MPPs hearing taxpayer frustration and health concerns in Kingston
(Kingston) – As province-wide pre-budget consultations continue this week, Opposition members are calling on Dalton McGuinty and his Liberal Government to put the brakes on their reckless spending habits and provide tax relief to hard working Ontario families and businesses in his 2010 budget.
MPPs Norm Miller, Toby Barrett and Peter Shurman were in Kingston today following consultations in North Bay, London and Niagara Falls to kick off 2010 pre-budget hearings
After hearing from frustrated taxpayers and businesses, the PC members outlined three priorities they would like to see addressed in the budget to slow the rise of Dalton’s debt and address the jobs crisis:
- Tax relief targeted at job creation and helping Ontario families and seniors who stand to get hit the hardest by the HST;
- Capping spending this year to the levels targeted in the most recent budget;
- And reduction of red tape through the re-instatement of the Red Tape Commission.
Dalton McGuinty is currently spending $2.8 million dollars more every single hour than his government is receiving in revenue. If this undisciplined and reckless management of Ontario’s finances is allowed to continue, Dalton McGuinty will soon double the provincial debt
Barrett expects to hear testimony today underlining McGuinty’s failures to properly address health care needs in the province as a series of presenters from the health field are scheduled to testify.
QUOTES:
“We see a future of aging and more frail Ontarians requiring a re-ordering of health system priorities with respect to long-term care.”
Toby Barrett, MPP for Haldimand – Norfolk, Caucus Chair
““Farmers in all fields have had some very trying times over the past few years. And just as grain and oilseed, hog, beef and hort farmers thought they may be
getting somewhere with Minister Dombrowsky, the Premier decides to shuffle his cabinet – that’s like changing horses mid-stream.”
Toby Barrett, MPP for Haldimand – Norfolk, Caucus Chair (as stated at London hearings)
“Testimony today stressed that with close to 50 per cent of tobacco sales in Ontario now contraband, an 8 per cent HST will further increase the gap between legal and illegal practices. This is a gift to organized crime.”
Toby Barrett, MPP for Haldimand – Norfolk, Caucus Chair
QUICK FACTS:
- The McGuinty Government is currently spending $2.8 million more per hour than they are receiving in revenue.
- Since Dalton McGuinty came to office, Ontario’s debt has grown by a staggering $65 billion. To date, on a per household basis, Dalton McGuinty has increased Ontario’s debt by $13,500 for every family in Ontario.
- Since coming to office, Dalton McGuinty has increased government spending by 65%. Over that same time period, Ontario’s economy has only grown by 5.7%.
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For more information contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446, 905-765-8413 or 1-800-903-8629 |
