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BECAUSE I SAID SO: Scrap the HST idea
In an article published today (Nov. 18) in the Toronto Star, users of food banks across Canada has increased by about 18 per cent. "'This is the largest ever year-over-year increase in food bank use on record,' Katherine Schmidt, executive director of Food Banks Canada, a charitable organization that represents most of the country's nearly 700 food banks and works to raise awareness of hunger," the article said. When a vast amount of families can hardly feed themselves, where on earth does Dalton think the average, hard-working Londoner is going to come up with the extra 8 per cent required to pay on their lights, water and heat bills by July 2010? London, Ontario is the second hardest hit city by job loss in this country. There is no more money to be had by government. Taxypayers here are tapped out – you have all you're going to get. So look for another source, Dalton. Perhaps big business will give you hand. Or better yet, start getting back some of the money Chrysler and GM owes us. Yes us -- the taxypayer. Or perhaps you could look into your various ministries and see what's really going on. The OLG and ehealth scandals come immediately to mind. Wake up, Dalton! (He's just dreaming.) He just needs a nudge in the right direction. If he thinks for one minute 8 per cent more money can be ripped from the hungry hands of the impoverished area of southwestern Ontario, he would be blatantly wrong and completely out of touch with what's really happening in the homes west of the GTA. The average Londoner won't be able to pay for the HST. Many will, without a doubt, lose their lights, heat and running water. That's the reality and a fact. Jobs, and good paying jobs with benefits, have and are disappearing faster than the buses did on London's city streets this past Monday (Nov. 16). There are a lot of poor families and people here in London and it's high time you start lending a helping hand by creating "real" jobs for them. That's your focus -- not kicking them even more while they are down. The city of London can only support so many families where their EI benefits are running out. Ontario Works of this municipality is supporting a heavy, heavy burden. Where's the help for our municipality from the province, and even the feds for that matter? This is an issue you should be much more focused on. Now to Dalton's defence, there have been some concessions made with regard to the pending HST. The HST will not be added to things like your morning paper, your Timmies coffee or your fast food items. Well Dalton, I for one read all my news online only. I don't support killing trees or trucks ripping across southwestern Ontario carrying the vary carnage of those dead trees. It's on my agenda. I don't drink coffee. I stopped eating fast food years ago – locally grown, fresh food as much as possible is the only way to go. So, where does Dalton's elimination of the HST on unnecessary, unhealthy items leave someone like me? No where. And I suspect it would leave many others with no escape from paying "another" tax with the HST. Really, the HST has got to be a joke – a nightmare or a dream. There is no way our provincial premier could possibly be even remotely thinking of implementing the HST. Ontarians do not want it. Londoners do not want it. It's time to listen and learn. Now is not the time or the place to even think about another tax. So scrap the HST idea, Dalton…because I said so. -- -- -- -- Jodi Bryans is a London resident and writer. She has well over a decade of print and online journalism and advertising experience. She was born in London, Ontario, and grew up on a farm north of the city. Contact Jodi by e-mail (see link). Opinions are those of the author. E-MAIL: Jodi Bryans |
| I work, my husband works, we have 2 sons at home we are supporting because neither can find jobs after graduating. I pay the utilities, if the HST tax comes into effect then we will have to resort to the food bank. When is this going to stop. Now the bus drivers want more money because neighboring cities pay their's more. Everyone is just putting everyone out with greed.The city taxes will be increasing.Two many people living above their means.I voted Liberal all my life, never again,these rich politicians have no idea what it is like or what people are going through just to make ends meet.When are these jerks ever going to see the light of day. |
| By: linkyl on 11/18/2009 |
| Dear Dalton McDoofus: You and your cockamamie HST will simply force average folks to look to black markets for things...............or worse resort to crime because they simply cannot afford to buy things! What in the Hell are you thinking? Don't plan on being around after the next election. |
| By: Greg Jones on 11/19/2009 |
| The HST is a rational, fair tax that will make Ontario companies more competitive, create jobs and reduce costs on all kinds of manufactured items. Much (if not all) of the tax on new items will be offset by new exemptions on the GST portion of the HST and by reduced shelf prices on other items. That fact that Ontario has been slow to adopt a single, blended tax system doesn't mean its wrong to do it now -- better late than never! Creating a smarter, simpler, more efficient tax system is the right idea when we're trying to promote recovery and long-term economic health. |
| By: River City on 11/19/2009 |
| @River City. What?! You've obviously never gone hungry or struggled in your life. Are you for real? Good, then you can pay my portion of the HST since you like is so much and find it "rational" because I won't pay it. |
| By: pessy on 11/19/2009 |
| The HST will cause disruption and taken in isolation is a tax increase on some items. What is constantly ignored is the income tax cuts that come Jan 1, 2010. The tax mix is being shifted and your article is out of date as your morning coffee and paper have now been exempted from the Provincial Portion of the HST. This is the smartest move the government could make. And actually Mr Harper's cut in the GST was the stupidest move. We and the economy would have been much better off with a braoder income tax cut. Don't let blindness to the fact that the HST is part of larger tax package and the fact that is so visible and therefore loathed, be a deterrent to modernizing our taxation system. |
| By: Jim on 11/19/2009 |
| Hey Jim... Do you mean the corporate tax cuts being cut from 14 to 10% over three years? Or the small business tax being cut? Now I understand the argument that companies having more money, means money falls down to the little guys via more jobs.. but cmon, do you actually believe that for one minute? This is another example of redistribution of wealth by our government. Lets cut taxes for corporations and ask the average canadian to pick up the tab. Almost makes you think the government stopped working for the people doesnt it? |
| By: Jeff on 11/20/2009 |
| All I can say is that we got the government the voters wanted (not the one I wanted nor voted for). I can only hope that when the next election comes around, the pacific, apathetic, moronic Ontario voters will not forget once again how the Fiberals have lied to us. You know what though, I have a horrible feeling we will forget and vote them in again when they give us some more pre-election "goodies" PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET'S NOT FORGET THIS!!! |
| By: MW on 12/15/2009 |
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