The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Hudak prefers nuclear energy to neighbourhood power plants 5 · Friday, November 27, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Continued from page 4 ing an anti-red tape commission to help small businesses and entrepreneurs, and suspending land transfer taxes. Hudak also touched briefly on improving the power supply, stating the Conservatives' support for nuclear power, rather than neighbourhood power plants, such as the one proposed for southeast Oakville. "I know this subject is on the minds of many Oakville families these days and what is happening today in Oakville is a result of a process that was never coordinated, is certainly not pragmatic and is based far more on political science," he said. Many were anticipating Hudak to talk indepth about the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). However, he only made a few comments on the issue during his speech. "I know some people in the room may support the HST... but I believe Dalton McGuinty has taken the notion of reducing red-tape and turned it into a $3-billion tax grab on the backs of Ontario's families and seniors," he said. "It is going to hurt families and kill jobs." The HST will take effect in July 2010 and will combine the eight per cent sales tax with the five per cent federal GST into a 13 per cent harmonized sales tax. The move means an extra eight per cent tax on thousands of items, such as gasoline and veterinarian's bills, to name a few. Hudak has made it no secret he is vehemently opposed to the HST. He has been a vocal opponent to the proposed fusion of taxes, speaking out against it in the Provincial Legislature. Hudak spoke more about the impact of the HST on local businesses in a scrum following his speech. "The bottom line is that this (HST) will suck some $3 billion out of the pocket books of Ontario families and when you take that money out of the economy, that's bad news for business of any kind," he said. To offset the impact of the HST on businesses, Premier Dalton McGuinty and his Liberal government are planning to introduce $4.5 billion in corporate income tax cuts over three years starting on July 1, 2010. The government says that most Ontario businesses will receive input tax credits for sales tax they pay on many of the business purchases and capital investments, as well as save over $500 million a year in administrative and compliance costs. Hudak told reporters in the scrum he wants to see more breaks for businesses. "We have been fighting for reductions in business taxes ever since Dalton McGuinty increased them in his first budget," he said. "The Ontario PC Caucus has also put good ideas on the table that could be implemented today by Dalton McGuinty to help businesses create job. Suspending the payroll tax would encourage new hires, particularly in small business. Suspending the land transfer tax would help many young families in the Oakville area realize that Canadian dream of home ownership and kick-start jobs in the construction sector." John Sawyer, president of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, said there is a lot of confusion and mixed support among members over the HST. He said he's hoping speakers like Hudak and Liberal Minister of Revenue John Wilkinson, who will talk at a Chamber breakfast event on Dec. 8, will help clarify questions Sawyer added that the Chamber is supportive of the HST. "The bottom line is that Ontario needs to get competitive and we think that the HST is part of a bigger package that will help us get there," he told The Oakville Beaver. "There are still some bumps in the road we need to get over, but we're very pleased to see some of the exemptions the government initiated, like the $4 food and beverage exemption. The exemption for real estate is also good. We're very supportive of the initiative, but we do have some details we need to work through." o T wn Ser vic Out-ofe & or t p Air OAKVILLE UNITED TAXI Celebrate responsibly this holiday season by appointing a designated driver, or call us for a ride. We're available anytime to get you home safe and sound. · · · · · · · · · · · · GO GREEN! u! ves yo or t & mo r sp ll that ool, fo for a for sch fun, colorful activewear with total flip style · hip streetwear · bags for hauling all your school and sports stuff divine casual jewelry · wicked water bottles · funky footwear · custom teamwear · great gifts and so much more! 905.338.0044 Ê Join our growing team, call 905-338-6106 CALL US 24 HOUR · 7 DAYS A WEEK 299 Lakeshore Road E Oakville 905.845.6887 www.tripleflip.ca Ê THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT