Private Member Bill Aims To Strip HST From Home Heating Bills

By Doug Draper

When the Ontario New Democrats table a private members bill in the weeks ahead, calling for the removal of Harmonized Sales Tax from home heating bills, a Niagara member of the governing Liberal Party says he will support it.

Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor, who has a reputation as a bit of a political maverick in his governing party, told Niagara At Large this November 15 that when the provincial legislature reconvenes in the days ahead,, he will vote in favour of taking the HST off home heating.

“I certainly believe the HST (a combination of the federal GST and provincial sales tax or PST) should be taken off,” said Craitor, who said he believed home heating should have been exempted by the provincial and federal governments when it was introduced in Ontario two summers ago. I believe it should be taken off for home heating right across the country,” he added. “It is an essential service.
Andrea Horwath, the province’s NDP leader, announced plans this November 14 to support a private members bill, to be talbed as soon as next week by her party’s newly elected MPP, Michael Mantha, from the Algoma-Manitoulin region of Ontario.

“People feel like they’re falling behind and we’re ready to tackle the challenges they’re facing,” said Horwath. “As we head into the first Legislative session you’ll be hearing from New Democrats offering effective achievable solutions to make life better for families.”
The deduction of the HST from home heating bills would save an average family $100 per year, a small start for strugging families, Horwath admits, but a start.
Horwath went on to note  that under the HST agreement signed by Dalton McGuinty and Stephen Harper, Ontario’s largest corporations will be able to write off entertainment and other expenses, a move that will cost the treasury over $1 billion a year. She also noted that Ontario is planning on moving ahead with additional corporate tax cuts that will cost $200 million next fiscal year and $600 million in the following year

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