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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2010 15Our MPP Reportsby Ted ArnottMPP Wellington - Halton HillsOnly a McGuinty Liberal would think the best way to celebrate Canada Day is with a tax increase.But thats just what will happen this year in Ontario, when the Harmonized Sales Tax, or HST, will come into effect on July 1st.By combining the eight-per cent provincial sales tax with the federal GST, the Liberals are touting their new CRIME STOPPERS UNITE: Crime Stoppers staff and supporters gathered in Rockwood on Saturday as part of HST as a magic elixir to create jobs and reduce costs to the annual police auction of unclaimed stolen goods. On hand to raise $372 from the barbeque were, from left Randy business. They claim theyre cutting other taxes. They Martyn, Orlando Fantini, Leesa Keleher, Rick Eller, Marlene Coughlin and Alex Smith. Denise Paulsen photclaim our economy will be more efficient, businesses will pass along the savings to consumers - and there will even be cheques in the mail!But to many people, the HST will instead amount to nothing more than another tax hike from a government addicted to tax hikes.Affected will be goods and services, including many essentials like our fuel and hydro bills, which are not currently subject to provincial sales tax.NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRETaxes will rise to 13 per cent on the following:Highway 7 Rockwood (GWP 155-91-00) Hydro, home heating fuel, gasoline, vitamins, inter-Detailed Design and Class Environmental Assessmentnet service, mutual fund fees and financial services, THE PROJECTcondo fees, airplane, train and bus tickets, funerals and Dillon Consulting Limited has been retained by the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to complete the Detailed Design and Class Environmental estate planning costs, home renovation and repairs, Assessment (EA) process for the rehabilitation of 4.1 km of Highway 7 from 0.07 km west of Fall Street to 0.5 km east of Halton Regional Road 32 lawn maintenance and snow removal, golfing fees, (to Eden Mills) in the community of Rockwood, Township of Guelph-Eramosa and Town of Milton. Subject to the outcome of the study, the Ministry is proposing:bicycles and bicycle safety equipment, gym member- Rehabilitation of the roadway to address existing pavement conditions;ships, trips to the veterinarian, and haircuts - to name Rehabilitation of the Eramosa River Bridge, with one lane of traffic maintained on the bridge during construction;just a few. Rehabilitation of the existing storm sewer system, as required;On the gasoline alone, be prepared to pay an addi- Replacement of existing sidewalks, as required; Culvert extensions/replacements;tional eight cents a litre, according to the Canadian Modifications to commercial and private entrances as required; andTaxpayers Federation. For an average family with an Lane closures and local detours, including temporary traffic signals, during construction. Local traffic will be maintained through Rockwood average car, thats at least $250 more, every year - just during construction, except for a short duration closure to replace a culvert crossing Highway 7: A detour route for traffic by-passing the community is proposed along Halton Regional Road 32 and Wellington Road 44.for gasoline. Traffic management may include the use of adjacent local roads, including Fall Street and Mary Street/Guelph Street, to limit traffic Opposition members of the Legislature have an obli-congestion on Highway 7 during construction. Temporary elimination of on street parking during construction.gation to speak up for those who will be hurt by the A Public Information Centre (PIC) is being held to receive input on the proposed improvements and associated traffic impacts on June 22, 2010. governments policy. Thats what we in the Ontario You are invited to attend the PIC to review the displays and speak to members of the Project Team who will be in attendance to present the PC Caucus are doing, and will continue to do, when information, receive comments and answer questions. it comes to this new tax.Date: Tuesday, June 22, 2010We also have an obligation to hold the McGuinty Time: 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Open house/drop-in format)Location: Rockmosa Community Centre, 74 Christie Street, Rockwoodgovernment accountable for its repeated and flagrantly broken promises not to raise taxes.Just before the provincial election in 2003, McGuinty signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, promising, in writing, that he would not raise taxes without the ex-plicit consent of Ontario voters. Since that time, he has introduced the Health Tax, what amounts to a backdoor energy tax, taxes on electronics, plastic bags, and now the HST.And even after all of those new taxes on Ontario families, the McGuinty government faces a record deficit this year of nearly $20 billion, and plans to continue borrowing more money than it takes in for many years to come.After years of overspending, even in good years, we are borrowing more than $2-million an hour, every hour of every day. By 2012-13, the provincial debt will have doubled under Premier McGuintys watch.With the introduction of the HST, provincial Min-istry of Revenue staff will be transferred to the federal government. In March during Question Period, I asked the government to explain why these provincial tax collectors would be receiving up to six months sever-THE PROCESSance, when they wouldnt be missing a day of work or This study is subject to Ontarios Environmental Assessment Act and is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Class pay. We still havent received a satisfactory explana-Environmental Assessment (EA) for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000) as a Group B project. A Transportation Environmental Study Report describing the existing conditions, preferred design and environmental mitigating measures and provisions that have been incorporated into the tion.design will be prepared for a 30-day public review period near the end of the study. With all of that spending, its no wonder he thinks COMMENTShe has to keep raising taxes, but he should at least be Comments and information collected will be used in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Access to clear about his intentions. As I recently asked in the Information Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.Ontario Legislature, the next time he offers to the For further information or to be added to the mailing list, please contact:people of Ontario his solemn pledge on taxes, who on Robert Bakalarczyk, P.Eng., Senior Project Engineer Kevin Welker, P.Eng., Project Manager orearth will believe him?Ministry of Transportation, Ontario Sabrina Stanlake, RPP, PlannerCanada Day offers many things to celebrate. The Planning and Design Section Dillon Consulting Limited659 Exeter Road Box 426, London, Ontario, N6A 4W7HST is not one of them.London, Ontario, N6E 1L3 Tel.: 519-438-6192***Tel.: 519-873-4602 Toll-free:1-888-345-5668, ext. 1283WToll-free: 1-800-265-6072 Fax: 519-672-8209ellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott welcomes Fax: 519-873-4600 E-mail: kwelker@dillon.ca oryour comments. He can be reached toll free at 1-800-E-mail: Robert.Bakalarczyk@ontario.ca sstanlake@dillon.ca265-2366. His website is www.tedarnottmpp.com