Conservative Support for Tax Harmonization

Tim Hudak was in favour of harmonization, until he was against it...

QUEEN'S PARK, Nov. 23 /CNW/ - Tim Hudak and his fellow Conservatives have long supported tax harmonization:

"...we understand how that (single sales tax) can help the economy." Tim Hudak , March 24, 2009 - Don Valley West, Conservative Party Annual Meeting.

"I agree that there's little sense in allowing two separate governments to apply two separate taxes and policies and collect two separate groups of sales taxes." Tim Hudak , April 23, 2009 - Economic Club of Toronto .

"I think, in theory, our party is supportive of harmonization." Bob Runciman, March 24, 2009 - Media Scrum

"In principle, we think it's something that should occur." Bob Runciman, March 25, 2009 - Media Scrum

"We've supported the principle of harmonization." Bob Runciman, March 26, 2009 - Budget Response

In addition, following a report from the Task Force on Competitiveness authored by Roger Martin , that called for harmonization of sales taxes, he asked:

"Premier, will you commit to following Dr. Martin 's good advice and reduce the level of business income taxes?" - Tim Hudak , November 26, 2008 - Hansard

Finally, Hudak's mentor, Mike Harris wrote -

"(Ontario is) further encouraged to harmonize (its) provincial sales tax with the federal goods and services tax, which already exempts business inputs. This would provide a double benefit by also reducing by one-half the paperwork required for businesses to collect and remit sales taxes." - Fraser Institute: Building Prosperity in a Canada Strong and Free, 2006.

For further information: Andrew Teliszewsky, [email protected], [phone]