Environment Critic Barrett supports scrapping eco-tax

For Immediate Release:
July 13, 2010

Queens Park – Opposition Environment Critic Toby Barrett and Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak are calling on Dalton McGuinty to scrap his so-called ‘eco – tax’

During a media conference at Queens Park the pair further committed that, if the McGuinty Liberals fail to eliminate their latest tax-grab, then a future Ontario PC Government will.

On July 1st, the McGuinty Government tried to sneak in this latest tax under the shadow of their HST. The funds are collected and levied by a McGuinty Government agency and are subsequently spent without any meaningful transparency or accountability regarding whether this money actually succeeds in reducing waste or helping the environment.

“This additional July First tax is the last straw. These taxes are bad for business, bad for customers – and essentially bad for the environment,” Barrett said. “I regret eco-taxes have been snuck in under the cloak of environmentalism.

“This approach compromises the integrity of stewardship and environmentalism.”

This is the latest in a growing pattern of Dalton McGuinty using the environment as an excuse to hike taxes on Ontario families, in this case attempting to disguise the tax grab as a so-called, ‘eco-fee’.

“The only ‘green’ Dalton McGuinty is truly worried about, is what’s found in your wallet.” Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak asserted. “From his hidden hydro tax to his so-called ‘smart metre’ energy tax grab, to his new secret eco-tax, it is clear that Dalton McGuinty will hide his tax grabs behind hollow environment excuses every chance he gets.”

Some of the 10,000 items included in Dalton McGuinty’s eco tax grab are:

Air conditioners
Lamps
Smoke alarms
Car polish
Calculators
Lighters and Matches
Electric razors
Electric toothbrushes Camcorders
Lock de-icer
Batteries
Fire extinguishers
Paint in an aerosol can
Tire pressure gauges
Bath Toys
Sunblock Drywall putty
Lantern
Electric screw-drivers
Mouse Traps
Flashlight
Answering machines
Laundry Detergent
Propane BBQ

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519) 428-0446 or (905)-765-8413, 1-800-903-8629