Seniors facing financial struggles due to fixed pensions and deteriorating health will have even more problems once the Harmonized Sales Tax is introduced in July, a Nepean panel told Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak Saturday.
Hudak and Ottawa MPP Lisa MacLeod met with local seniors' representatives at Sterling Place Retirement Residence to hear their concerns. Representatives said the HST is "simply unaffordable" for seniors.
The conference was held just before two local provincial by-elections on March 4.
The Ontario government says the HST, which combines the five per cent federal and eight per cent retail provincial taxes, will increase taxes on several items formerly immune to provincial taxes.
For example, there will be an annual $225 increase on average to gas and hydro bills alone, with real estate fees and Internet service also going up.
In a January interview with CTV Ottawa, Premier Dalton McGuinty noted his government will also reduce personal and business taxes at the same time to help residents break even.
He added the measure would create 600,000 jobs and that it's needed for a "modern" tax structure.
