Dunlop First MPP To Sign Pledge To Stop The Trades Tax

ORILLIA, ON, Jan. 18, 2013 /CNW/ - Garfield Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North and PC Critic for Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Reform, continues to lead the fight in Ontario to Stop The Trades Tax by becoming the first MPP to sign a pledge to end this job-killing tax.

"On behalf of tradespeople and businesses across Ontario, I want to thank Mr. Dunlop for his leadership," said Sean Reid, Chair of the Stop The Trades Tax Campaign. "The Trades Tax is a bad idea that will cost tradespeople and businesses millions of dollars. We believe fair-minded MPPs and candidates across the political spectrum will be willing to stand with Ontario tradespeople and commit to killing this tax."

Today's signing is the kick off of a province-wide tour asking current MPPs and all candidates in the next provincial election to stand up for tradespeople and sign a pledge to Stop The Trades Tax. This pledge will be important to all Ontarians because the trades tax will cost tradespeople and employers millions, kill jobs and drive up the cost of services like home renovations, car repairs and getting a haircut.

"As the Member of Provincial Parliament for Simcoe North, I pledge to the hardworking tradespeople and citizens of my riding that I will oppose any and all efforts by the Liberal government to implement a Trades Tax," said Dunlop. "The McGuinty government is calling this trades tax a 'membership fee' for the so-called 'College of Trades'. The reality is they plan to use the Trades Tax to build another layer of government bureaucracy that no one needs or wants. "

Mr. Dunlop signed the pledge at local plumbing and electrical shop, Brennan's Inc.  Brennan's is one of the many Simcoe County businesses that will be impacted by the new trades tax.

The Liberal government is planning to force Ontario tradespeople to pay membership fees, or a trades tax, to fund its newest bureaucracy, the Ontario College of Trades this spring. It is expected that employers will begin paying the tax in 2014.

"People across the province are realizing how damaging this trades tax will be to the Ontario economy," said Sean Reid, Chair of the Stop The Trades Tax Campaign. "We're seeing our campaign grow rapidly because the message is sinking in: this tax is going to make life more expensive for everyone. Costs for everything from a haircut to hiring a plumber to getting a car fixed will go up. Ontario families simply can't afford that."

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.

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

SOURCE: Stop the Trades Tax Campaign

Amanda Galbraith, [email protected] 416-710-3211
Sean Reid, Progressive Contractors Association of Canada and Campaign chair, [email protected] 289-335-1181