Campaign Support Grows in Battle to Stop the Trades Tax

CARAHS & Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors Try to Stop Rising Consumer Service Costs

TORONTO, Jan. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Starting next year a whole host of services will cost more, from getting a haircut, a car serviced, wiring, or plumbing fixed - to renovating or buying a new home. But not if more than 138,000 tradespeople and employers have their say.

In response to the multi-million dollar tax being imposed on tradespeople and employers by the McGuinty government, the Canadian Association of Renovators and Home Services and Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors - Ontario Trades Association have joined the Stop The Trades Tax campaign.

"Our association was created to help small business and home renovators," said CARAHS founder Alec Caldwell. "We're supporting them now by doing everything we can to stop this needless tax that will ultimately cost jobs."

The Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors - Ontario Trades Association represents more than 70 employers and approximately 1,000 tradespeople. "Trades, employers and consumers will all feel the trades tax hit," said Henry Jongbloed, President PHCC-OTA. "When homeowners make a call to their local plumber, it will cost more."

The Stop The Trades Tax campaign was launched in 2011 and has grown to 31 organizations whose members represent more than 8,000 small, medium and large Ontario businesses and 130,000 skilled tradespeople across the province. The campaign is supported by tradespeople and business owners who fix our cars and roads, cut our hair, and build and renovate our homes and hospitals.

"The trades tax does nothing but support another layer of bureaucracy that no one needs or wants," said Sean Reid, Chair of the Stop The Trades Tax Campaign. "It's money for nothing, plain and simple."

The Stop the Trades Tax campaign will begin a province-wide tour asking current MPPs, Liberal leadership candidates and all candidates in the next provincial election to stand up for tradespeople and sign a pledge to Stop The Trades Tax.

To learn more about the Campaign visit: www.stopthetradestax.ca

SOURCE: Stop the Trades Tax Campaign

Danna O'Brien, [email protected] 416-500-0699
Sean Reid, Progressive Contractors Association of Canada and Campaign chair, [email protected] 289-335-1181