NEWS:

TORONTO — Dalton McGuinty’s platform is a transparent attempt to distract attention from the elephant in the room – that if Dalton McGuinty is re-elected, he is guaranteed to hike taxes a third time.

Today Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak said that he expects there will be no meaningful tax relief or action to reduce waste in the Liberal platform. Hudak highlighted how Dalton McGuinty’s 2003 platform made no mention of his infamous so-called ‘health’ tax, and how the 2007 McGuinty platform made no mention of either the HST tax grab, sneaky eco taxes or hidden smart meter hydro tax. While the 2011 Liberal platform won’t admit to the next tax hike, Dalton McGuinty cannot hide that even higher taxes are on the way.

Hudak also drew attention to the Auditor General’s review of Dalton McGuinty’s spending plan. The Auditor General has exposed that Dalton McGuinty has increased program spending by an average of 7.2% since coming to office. The Auditor General has also said that Dalton McGuinty’s promise that he can reduce program spending increases to a mere 1% a year is an “assumption [that is] based on an optimistic or aggressive outlook’. The Auditor General went so far as to say that Dalton McGuinty would, “need to consider additional changes in policy or operations to achieve its targets,” a clear code for higher taxes.

QUOTES:

“The McGuinty Liberal platform is a distraction. We know that Dalton McGuinty can’t afford anything in his platform, because he cannot afford the promises he has already made. Dalton McGuinty’s elephant in the room is that he cannot pay for his spending plan without raising our taxes.”
– Tim Hudak, Ontario PC Party Leader

“The choice Ontario families face is clear. If you want more debt, more taxes and more waste you should vote for four more years of Dalton McGuinty. If you want real change and need real relief – you should place your vote – and your faith – in us.”
– Tim Hudak, Ontario PC Party Leader

QUICK FACTS:

• Dalton McGuinty’s 2003 platform made no mention of his record breaking income tax increase – the so-called ‘health’ tax. His 2007 platform made no mention of his record breaking HST sales tax increase, sneaky eco taxes or hidden smart meter hydro tax grab.
• Ontario’s Auditor General has confirmed that Dalton McGuinty has increased program spending by an average of 7.2 per year and called his commitment to limiting spending increases to 1% per year is based on an ‘optimistic or aggressive outlook’ (The Auditor General’s Review of the 2011 Pre-Election Report on Ontario’s Finances, p 5-6)
• The Auditor General also has said that Dalton McGuinty would, “need to consider additional changes in policy or operations to achieve his targets,” before a single one of his platform commitments is counted, which is a clear signal that more tax increases are on the way. (The Auditor General’s Review of the 2011 Pre-Election Report on Ontario’s Finances, p 7)