Press Release |
May 19, 2011
MPP Discusses McGuinty Tax Burden With Police Pensioners,
Promises Relief on Home Hydro and Heating Bills
In a speech to the Police Pensioners Association of Ontario, Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees reminded delegates how much their tax burden and cost of living has increased under the McGuinty government since 2003.
"I hear almost every day from retirees and especially people on fixed incomes, who tell me that they're afraid to open their hydro bills" said Klees." Hydro rates have increased eight times since Dalton McGuinty became Premier, and in his Fall Economic Update, he promised that they would increase by up to 46 per cent over the next four years".
Klees warned that in addition to increasing hydro costs, more tax increases are in store should Dalton McGuinty be re-elected in the October 6th election later this year.
"The HST now accounts for 10 cents per litre when you fill your gas tank" said Klees, "and because it's now added on to everything we touch, it's making it more and more difficult for people to make ends meet".
Klees assured delegates that a PC Government under the leadership of Tim Hudak would give relief to Ontario families from the increasing tax burden forced on them by Dalton McGuinty.
That promise of relief was confirmed today by PC Leader Tim Hudak when he announced that a PC Government would remove the “Debt Retirement Charge” and the provincial portion of the HST from residential hydro bills. A PC Government would also remove the provincial portion of the HST from every home heating bill, including natural gas, home heating oil and propane.
Commenting on the remarks by Klees, Paul Bailey, President of the Police Pensioners Association said, "Frankly, my membership is fed-up with seniors and retirees having their hydro rates skyrocket. Now we learn that more that the $7.8 billion collected over the years is unaccounted for and the Liberals refused to tell us where the money went. Unbelievable! If as former police officers and civilians, now retired, we conducted ourselves in this unprofessional manner we would have faced discipline charges and possibly lost our jobs. Mr. McGuinty, where is the money?”
Richard Metcalfe, PPAO's Secretary welcomed the promise that a PC Government would get to the bottom of where the more than $7.8 billion went that was collected as a Debt Retirement Charge on hydro bills since 2002.
"As retired Police Officers wewere used to being accountable for everything we did. I can't understand how the Government can refuse to tell the tax payers whereour money is going and why they are continuing to collect the debt retirement chargeafter the debt has been retired." said Metcalfe.
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