Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Murdoch is circulating an anti HST petition.
Murdoch tells Bayshore Broadcasting News he’s had many people call his office asking how they can voice their disapproval of the Liberal government’s plan to harmonize the GST and PST.
The Independent MPP says since the Liberals have a majority and are poised to approve the budget, the included plan for a 13 per cent sales tax will become law.
As a result, he says one of the only ways to do something about it is to gather signatures on a petition to show people really don’t support it.
Murdoch also points out the HST won’t come into effect until July of 2010, so even when the budget is approved within the next couple of weeks, there will still be lots of time to try and change the Liberals’ minds.
He says while it is a long shot, petitions have worked in the past, such as when the government decided not to cut the Lord’s Prayer from the legislature.
Murdoch calls the HST a tax grab, saying the people he’s talked to are angry it’s going to cost them more to buy some items – and that’s what the wording of the petition focuses on.
Murdoch says there’s no one sector of the population he’s hearing from in particular, since as he says we are all consumers.
When it comes to the business sector, Murdoch says he knows the Owen Sound Chamber of Commerce has called the harmonization a good idea.
But he adds he finds that strange, since he’s actually heard from quite a few members who don’t want to see it happen.
Murdoch says while there are some good points about an HST, such as improved efficiency for businesses, the cons outweigh the pros.
He adds especially in today’s economy, people don’t need higher taxes.
Murdoch says the HST isn’t the only reason he’s planning on voting against the provincial budget – he also says there’s a lot of spending in the document that he’s not sure about.
The Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP will begin presenting the petition in the legislature as soon as the signatures start piling up and says if they keep coming in he will continue to do so right up until the HST takes effect.
The petition is available at Murdoch’s constituency office in Owen Sound or can be requested through the mail.