Georgina · East Gwillimbury · King  .
 
Bradford West Gwillimbury · Innisfil  .

York Simcoe residents have let me know – loud and clear – they don't want a new carbon tax on heating, hydro, and gas.  They just can’t afford it.

Their concern flows from a new federal Liberal Party policy calling for a new tax on gas, oil, and energy to reduce greenhouse gases. While Liberals say their new tax will be "revenue neutral," people don’t believe that, and for good reason.  Stéphane Dion and the Liberal Party have proposed massive spending that would put us $62.5 billion in debt.  They need to find a way to pay for these promises.  Their solution is a massive tax hike that will only make you pay more for your home heating bill and gas.  I don’t think Canadians should pay for Liberal spending give-aways.

At several events, I have been approached by worried seniors on fixed incomes.  Heat, hydro, and gas are already climbing too high for their carefully planned budgets.  They are genuinely afraid that a new tax will make it impossible to make ends meet.

As one woman said to me, "I’ve already got the heat turned down as low as I can – a higher tax won’t lower the amount of energy I use, it will only leave me unable to afford to heat my home."

What’s more, the tax will increase the cost of producing and transferring food - and everything else we consume.  The Liberals are complaining that the Conservatives, by reducing taxes, haven’t produced a big enough surplus to allow new spending.  That’s why they want new taxes.

While we witness the economic slowdown in the United States, we cannot afford to increase taxes in Canada.  In fact, Canada has seen unprecedented economic growth recently as we have added over 384,000 jobs to the working force this past year.  Under the Conservative Government, Canada has made exceptional economic progress, and we need to maintain and build upon that.  Slapping a carbon tax on Canadians is certainly not the way to do it.  These sorts of proposals will actually hurt hard-working Canadians who pay their taxes, and play by the rules, and will devastate our national economy.   

I am proud that the Conservative Government has brought in tax relief in order to let people keep more of the money they earn.  I fundamentally believe that we pay too much tax already.  That’s why our government cut the GST from 7% to 5%, and cut personal income taxes as well.  The Sports and Fitness Tax Credit and the $100 a month child care allowance will help young families establish themselves in our great communities in York-Simcoe.

As your Member of Parliament, I am committed to fighting for lower taxes.  I think that it is the best way to keep our families strong, and our economy strong as well.  A carbon tax is neither something Canadians or our national economy can afford.  It is too high of a price to pay.  Next time you fill up your car, think about what a carbon tax would end up costing you.

Contact Information:

Parliament Hill Office
T  613-996-7752
F  613-992-8351
E  vanloan.p@parl.gc.ca

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