House of Commons approves HST

By a vote of 192 to 32, members of parliament today passed the Conservative government's proposed harmonized sales tax (HST) in British Columbia and Ontario.

The approval of this ways-and-means motion sets the groundwork for HST legislation that could be introduced as early as Friday.

Aside from the NDP, all party MPs voted in favour of the HST motion, including the Bloc Quebecois.

The following news release was issued this afternoon by Sault MP Tony Martin:

************************* Conservative and Liberal MPs "sold out" Northern Ontario on HST New Democrat MPs stand alone in HST vote today in the House of Commons OTTAWA – Federal New Democrat MPs say that Conservative and Liberal MPs sold out the people of Northern Ontario by standing up and voting Thursday in support of the Harper government’s $4.3 billion federal payment which enables the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) in Ontario. “These Conservative and Liberal MPs from Northern Ontario – Greg Rickford (Kenora), Anthoney Rota (Nipissing-Timiskaming), and Tony Clement (Parry Sound – Muskoka) – have sold out their constituents today and voted to support the HST which will raise the price of gas, firewood, hydro, home heating oil and propane, snow removal, hockey registration, internet and cable by 8 percent,” Rafferty said.

“These are essential purchases for residents in Northern Ontario and Rickford, Rota, and Clement ensured that the costs of these goods and services will rise, and dramatically, for their constituents.” Sault MP Tony Martin said: "these Northern Ontario Conservative and Liberal MPs chose to stand in support of Stephen Harper and Dalton McGuinty’ s HST and against the very people of they claim to represent" “These MPs had a chance to the stop the HST for their constituents and they refused. The voters in Kenora, Nipissing-Timiskaming, and Parry Sound-Muskoka have to hold them to account in the next election for this betrayal.”

*************************