The MPP for Bruce Grey Owen Sound says his constituents who signed a petition against the HST can claim a small victory, and the McGuinty government decided to scale back on the list of taxable goods.
The Ontario government will NOT tax food and beverages sold for four dollars or less, newspapers, books or certain baby items.
Progressive Conservative Bill Murdoch says it is the second time that the province has backed off on imposing an 8 per cent tax on certain items that are currently exempt.
The Liberals said a few weeks ago that children’s clothing and footwear, diapers, car and booster seats and feminine hygiene products will be exempt.
The HST will come into effect in Ontario next July, and despite the minor victory, MPP Murdoch says there is plenty of work to be done.
He is hoping to keep up the pressure on the McGuinty government by continuing to collect names on petitions against the HST and reading those names in the legislature.
Murdoch says he has a huge stack of names on petitions at his office in Toronto, and although he doesn’t believe the government will back off totally from the new HST next July, he is hoping for more minor victories.
The Conservative MPP says raising taxes 8 per cent on items you need, like home heating oil and natural gas, is crazy during a severe recession.