The provincial Liberals want to have their 13 per cent harmonized sales tax — combining the 8 per cent provincial tax and five per cent GST — in place for July 1.

Tim Hudak, the Niagara-West Glanbrook MPP and leader of the provincial Tories, said Mountain MPP Sophia Aggelonitis is helping the Liberal government rush through legislation to formally implement what he calls a $3 billion tax grab.

Hudak said Aggelonitis has acted as a “mouthpiece” in the legislature promoting the HST.

“It is sad that she has instead chosen to serve as Dalton McGuinty’s voice in Hamilton Mountain,” said Hudak, rather than represent her constituents’ views.

The Mountain riding's federal representative, MP Chris Charlton, said residents have chimed in with their views on the HST and there isn’t much support. “They are very angry about this,” she said. “And they’re frightened. This isn’t an anger about some esoteric political issue, this is something that directly impacts their pocketbooks. I’m assuming that Sophia has heard the same message I have, loud and clear."

Aggelonitis said governing is not a popularity contest and her government is doing what it believes is right for Ontario's future. If the province doesn’t create a competitive environment, businesses will not remain here to create jobs.

“We cannot afford to let Ontario slide backwards as the world finds its way out of this global economic recession,” she said. “We want to remain competitive.”
The HST will result in tax being charged on items previously exempt from provincial tax, such as hair cuts, funerals, snow removal services and Internet access fees.

Last week, the provincial and federal governments announced exemptions on some products, such as newspapers and fast food costing less than $4.

The province has said it expects the harmonization will result in more competition among business by lowering the taxes they pay and helping them create more jobs.

Charlton said it adds an extra eight per cent on many essential items that families rely on.

“This is the worst possible time to ask people to be paying more for things like home heating fuel, for electricity, for gas,” she said. “People are barely scraping by. Thousands of people in our community have lost their jobs, seniors are barely holding their heads above water, and instead of offering support to Ontarians, we’re now going to impose an eight per cent tax hike.”

Ontario NDP leader and Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath also spoke out this week, saying the government should hold consultations across the province before going ahead with the tax.

“It would show tremendous disrespect to make such profound changes to the province’s tax structure without first having the decency to let people have a say about it,” Horwath said.

“Why hasn’t Dalton McGuinty announced that the people of this province will be asked whether they want a new tax? Is he afraid he won’t like the answer?”

HST legislation also has to be approved in Ottawa. Charlton said the federal NDP is united against the harmonized tax. While the federal Liberals say they will support legislation in Ottawa, considering there’s a minority government, it’s possible it could be defeated, she said.

“There is no guarantee any legislation here will pass and we’re absolutely committed to fighting the HST,” said Charlton.