A Motion on the HST in Ontario Stopped
Canada News Wire reported the following on May 18, 2010:
Yesterday Dalton McGuinty broke yet another promise when he betrayed an all-party agreement in order to kill an Ontario PC motion that would have allowed all MPPs to freely vote on delaying the implementation of the HST.
All three Ontario political parties had an agreement-in-principle to a 'programming motion' which would have allowed the Ontario PC Caucus to introduce a single motion on an issue of important public policy. After learning the Ontario PC Caucus intended to introduce a motion that recalled Dalton McGuinty's promise not to raise taxes without the consent of Ontarians and calling for the HST to not be implemented until after the next provincial election, McGuinty quickly backtracked on his handshake deal.
This is the third time in a week that the McGuinty Liberals have been caught playing dirty political tricks with Ontario's democratic rules. Previously the Liberals were caught leaking confidential legislative information as part of an unprecedented smear campaign against Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin and blocking Opposition MPPs from taking their seats on Budget Day.
QUOTES:
"Dalton McGuinty would rather break yet another promise than permit his
own MPPs to vote on delaying the HST. These are clearly the desperate
tactics of a desperate man."
-- Lisa MacLeod, Ontario PC MPP for Nepean - Carleton and critic for
Revenue and Accountability
"It is hard to work in good faith with people who are so quick to break
their promises and betray their commitments."
-- John Yakabuski, Ontario PC MPP for Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke and
Opposition House Leader
QUICK FACTS:
- The Ontario PC Motion that Dalton McGuinty broke his promise to kill
reads as follows:
"That, in light of Premier McGuinty telling Ontario families the HST
will be revenue-neutral when he knew all along "there will be an
increase in taxation" as a result of it; the Legislative Assembly of
Ontario calls upon the McGuinty government to delay implementation
of the HST until a date following the next provincial general
election."
For further information: Christine Bujold, (416) 325-8505, christine.bujold@pc.ola.org
Cyndee Todgham Cherniak is counsel to and in affiliation with the International Trade Law and the Tax Law (Commodity Tax
