Press Releases 2004
May
18, 2004
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LIBERAL
BUDGET BREAKING FAITH WITH
THE PEOPLE OF ONTARIO
Litany
of Broken Promises, Tax Hikes and Service Cuts Loom in
Wake of Inaugural Liberal Budget
(Queen's
Park) With the unveiling of the Liberal government's
first budget, the Province of Ontario has started back down the slippery
slope towards astaggering economy, job loss and recession. Despite the
more than 230 promises made by the Liberals in the last election, they
have charted a new course that will see taxes increase more than 20 times
over the next year, and the provincial debt rise by $12 billion by 2007.
"In
true Liberal fashion, this government has released a budget that will
have Ontarians pay more and get less," said Frank Klees, MPP Oak Ridges.
"It is clear that the Liberals have every intention of breaking faith
with the people of Ontario, and that they have no concern for the long-term
health of our economy or our critical programs."
Some
of the key impacts of the 2004 Liberal Budget include:
•
$1.6 billion-personal income tax hike to pay for health
care premiums;
•
$3.9 billion-electricity rate hike;
•
Increases to taxes on liquor, beer, wine and tobacco;
•
Delisting of key health services such as eye exams, physiotherapy
and chiropractic services;
•
50% increase in driver's licence fees;
•
Elimination of the Ontario Home Ownership Savings Program;
•
Elimination of critical tax credits such as, the Workplace
Accessibility Tax Incentive, the Workplace Child Care Tax Incentive, and
income tax incentives for electricity supply and conservation;
•
65% increase in user fees payable by the average Ontarian.
"Premier
McGuinty has become the poster child for political cynicism in our country,"
said Klees. "When the PC Party was first elected in 1995,
we laid out our plan for Ontario and committed to honouring the faith
that the people of Ontario placed in our government. With this budget,
it seems that the Premier and the Liberal government are determined to
destroy that same faith."
"The
Official Opposition will not stand idly by and watch this government tear
down the economic foundation and the one million new jobs that we helped
create over the past eight years," said Klees. "Ontario's employers and
families have worked too hard to have the Liberal government's reckless
tax-and-spend agenda erode global confidence in our province. We will
continue to stand opposed to higher taxes and fight to protect the vital
services that Ontarians value most."
-30-
For
further information:
Frank
Klees, MPP
Oak
Ridges
905-707-3160
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