Runciman says Smith silenced by McGuinty

MPP Bob Runciman, Leader of the Official Opposition
News Release

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Queen's Park - Bob Runciman, Leader of the Official Opposition (Leeds-Grenville) today criticized Premier Dalton McGuinty for "one-man rule", shutting out Liberal MPPs from important tax discussions and silencing them on constituents' complaints about his new sales tax, which represents the biggest tax hike in Ontario's history.

"In the PC Party, we've heard from residents in North Bay, Kitchener, Barrie, Lindsay, Cornwall, on and on, upset with this new tax grab: residents of Liberal-held ridings who apparently have no voice in this Legislature, represented by MPPs who won't even convey their concerns to the Minister of Finance," charged Runciman today to the Premier during Question Period in the Ontario legislature.

"Premier, this is wrong. It's wrong that you shut out the public. It's wrong that you've shut down your own members. Open the process up. Do the right thing. Honour your commitments of the past."

"In a democratic society, people across the province should be allowed to voice their concerns about any government decisions that affect their pocketbooks," said Runciman. "If people don't want to pay the price of Dalton McGuinty's decision to merge the PST and GST, they should be allowed to say so and then expect their MPP - in this case, Monique Smith - to pass along their comments. Liberal MPPs are failing their constituents."

The Dalton Sales Tax will apply to goods and services like gas at the pumps, coffee and donuts, home heating oil, electricity, train fares, newspapers and magazines, haircuts, postage stamps, home renovations, dry cleaning, car washes, veterinary care and arena ice rentals.

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