Respect for Ontario families. That was the message Ontario PC caucus leader Tim Hudak delivered to supporters at a stop in Mitchell on March 17.
"I'm hearing more and more that people want change. They want a government that will give them relief and respect that fact that every dollar the government spends comes from a hard working Ontario family who earned it," he said.
Hudak, after an earlier stop in Stratford, was in Mitchell along with Perth-Wellington candidate Randy Pettapiece and longtime MPP Ernie Hardeman. He met with members of the Mitchell Business Improvement Assocation (BIA) at the town hall before gathering with supporters at the Crystal Palace for a luncheon.
"Families are getting nickeled and dimed to death. Every time they turn around they are hit with a new tax or new fee," said Hudak, alluding to the HST that has been added to the basics of heat, hydro and gas and the eco-tax.
He added, "Hydro bills are going through the roof. Smart meters are nothing more than a tax machine that takes more money out of the pockets of families that are already struggling to balance the family budget.
"To give Ontario families and seniors a break, we have called to pull the plug on the mandatory smart meters because not every senior can get up at midnight to wash their clothes and do the dishes, not every family can have all the kids showered and fed and ready for school by 7 a.m. when the high rates kick in, not every family meets Dalton McGuinty's definition of an ideal family and that is why we have said a PC government would pull the plug on the smart meters and give every family a choice," he continued.
In January, the PC caucus travelled across Ontario to more than 80 communities to warn Ontario families about how McGuinty's "expensive energy experiments are causing hydro bills to skyrocket."
"Sadly, since then Ontario families and seniors have seen two more hits that will drive up their bill," he said, referring to the smart meters that have cost over $1 billion, or $200 per consumer, and the $18 million in fines and legal fees that utilities have been charged with for overcharging customers in late fees.
Hudak said this month the Conservatives brought forward a motion in the house, calling for a forensic audit on the debt retirement charge, which can be upwards of $84 per family.
"We want to know how much has been paid to date, how much is left over and when will that charge come off the hydro bills," he said.
He said the Liberals voted it down.
"And when it comes to respect, we need to restore respect to the average tax payer in Ontario. The current government has lost the fact that every dollar spend was earned by hard working people. The government should work for the people who pay the bills," he said.Hudak said a PC government would eliminate the inefficient Local Health Improvement Networks (LHINs) and put every penny back into frontline health care.
"Respect also means respect for property rights and for communities to have their say. We have called for a province wide moratorium on industrial wind turbine farms because we need to get the science right, the setbacks are not working, we need good environmental and health information and contracts need to be affordable to families," he added. "We are going to respect local decisions."
Hudak said there a significant challenges right across the province.
"We have the biggest deficit we have ever faced, we have lost too many young trades people and seniors who have fought for our country are struggling to pay the bills. Change is coming to Ontario, change for the average family, seniors, small business, and change that will restore respect.
"Families deserve a chance to catch up, to balance the family budget and have money left over to spend on their own priorities, not the governments," said Hudak.
"This October we will offer a clear choice between an out of touch Dalton McGuinty that treats consumers as his personal ATM machine or a PC government, who will put consumers, families, seniors and small businesses first and give families the relief they desperately need."
Hudak also welcomed every family to visit HaveYourSayOntario.ca to tell the PC government how to make Ontario a leader again.
"We have had over 20,000 people that have spoken up and gone to our website. Whether it is abolishing the HST, reducing it, income tax reductions, all options are on the table. We want you to tell us what is going to help Ontario families," he said.
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