From Where I Sit

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July 16, 2010

by: Kevin Bernard

Does Dalton McGuinty expect to lose to the next election anyway... or does the Premier just not get it !

Ontario residents are feeling taxed to death now that several changes have kicked in July 1st.

One of the biggest changes of course is the HST or hamonized sales tax which started on Canada Day.

It covers almost everything, including the cost of a funeral !

That means for many products that you only paid the 5 percent GST on before, you now pay 13 percent in total with the HST, an 8 percent increase.

It applies to Hydro rates, home heating oil, gas for your car, even a haircut.

Speaking of Hydro rates, those are changing dramatically.

Hydro One received approval for a 4 percent hike in delivery charges, along with an average 8 percent more for electricity.  When combined with the new 8  percent extra tax from the HST that works out to 20 percent more for hydro this month.

That doesn't include the hike you could face with the new Time of Use Charges brought in by Hydro One, where you pay more during peak demand periods.

And to top it all off, the province expanded the Eco-fee to some 9000 items that you buy in the store.

It ranges from a few pennies to nearly 7 dollars and so far has been a fiasco with the amount charged varying wildly, and the Opposition calling for it to be scrapped.

All this from Premier Dalton McGuinty who told us a few years ago he wouldn't raise taxes......

Of course the health tax you pay during Income tax time doesn't count according to the Liberal Premier.

From where I sit...

Ontario taxpayers have a long memory, and all these new taxes and fees should spell the end of Dalton McGuintys' reign as Premier.

I'm Kevin Bernard.

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