Toronto, ON – Newly elected Leader of the Ontario PC Party, Tim Hudak, was at a Toronto apartment building to highlight the negative impact the ‘Dalton Sales Tax’ or DST will have on renters in the province. The DST is the harmonization of the PST and GST, and will increase the cost of numerous items, including rent.

“Ontario families and seniors are already working hard enough to manage household expenses, balance the chequebook and pay the bills and with Dalton McGuinty’s latest tax grab it will be even harder,” Hudak said. “Under the Dalton Sales Tax renters will be punished at a time when they can least afford it, because the DST means an automatic jump in the price of rent. The Dalton Sales Tax must be stopped.”

According the Federation of Rental Housing Providers of Ontario, under the Dalton Sales Tax, a tenant paying $1000 a month will see the cost of their rent increase between $270 and $320 per year. That amount represents the impact of adding 8% to goods and services which previously did not face PST: repair, maintenance and property management services, natural gas and electricity.

In addition, the DST will slap another 8% tax on: cable, cell phone and internet services. More than one-quarter of renters will also see an immediate jump in their utility costs as a result of paying directly for utilities that are not included in their building’s rent.

Hudak called on Ontario renters to join him in the fight to stop the DST by signing a petition to show the Liberals that families in the province oppose this massive tax grab.

“It’s time to tell Dalton McGunity that enough is enough, before he takes one more dollar from your pocket,” Hudak said. “Ontario families deserve our support, especially now during tough economic times and that’s why I’m committed to fighting and stopping the ‘Dalton Sales Tax’.”

Under the McGuinty government, Ontario has lost 330,000 manufacturing jobs, the unemployment rate is among the highest in Canada, the budget deficit next year is forecasted to be the highest in history – more than $18 billion – and for the first time ever, Ontario is a “have-not” province receiving equalization payments from the federal government.
For a full list of items that will be taxed under the DST and to sign the petition visit www.daltonsalestax.com