Niagara Tradespeople Join Campaign To Stop The Trades Tax

Tradespeople Try to Stop Rising Cost of Hair Cuts, Car Servicing & Calling a Plumber or Electrician

NIAGARA, ON, Jan. 31, 2013 /CNW/ - Niagara construction workers have joined the campaign to stop the Ontario government from hitting tradespeople with a job-killing trades tax that will drive up the cost of services including home renovations, car repairs and getting a haircut.

"This new bureaucracy is going to cost tradespeople millions of dollars and make life more expensive for consumers in Niagara," said Karin Sheldrick, General Manager of the Niagara Construction Association. "The trades tax will kill jobs and discourage youth from entering into the trades. We joined the Stop The Trades Tax campaign to ensure the government's newest bureaucracy is stopped."

The Ontario government has announced that a multi-million dollar trades tax will hit businesses and tradespeople this spring. It will impact all Ontario apprentices, journeypersons and their employers.

In a response, a grassroots campaign was launched in 2011, to urge the Ontario government to scrap its newest bureaucracy. The Stop The Trades Tax campaign has grown to 31 organizations whose members represent more than 130,000 skilled tradespeople and 8,000 business owners. The campaign is supported by tradespeople across the spectrum, from mechanics to hairdressers to construction workers.

"We're calling on the Wynne government to scrap its job killing trades tax that will ultimately be a costly failure," said Campaign Chair Sean Reid. "We're encouraging you to help stop the trades tax by writing to your MPP and signing our petition."

The Stop the Trades Tax campaign recently launched a province-wide tour asking MPPs, 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 Stop The Trades Tax campaign visit: www.stopthetradestax.ca

SOURCE: Stop the Trades Tax

Danna O'Brien, [email protected] 416-500-0699

Karin Sheldrick, Niagara Construction Association, [email protected], 905-682-6661

Sean Reid, Progressive Contractors Association of Canada and Campaign Chair, [email protected] 289-335-1181