Critics Call Review Of Ontario Health Tax A Waste Of Time

Toronto, Ontario (AHN) - The Progressive Conservative Party criticized the forced review of Ontario's health tax as a waste of time because the province has no plans of removing it anyway.

Tim Hudak from the Progressive Conservative pointed out Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty had already announced he will not phase out the controversial tax, tagged by municipalities and taxpayers as a burden.

McGuinty imposed the health premium in 2004 during his first term to fill in the $5.6 billion budget deficit he inherited from the past Conservative administration. The health tax is up to $900 annually per Ontario taxpayer.

The premier admitted the tax review is only being held to comply with the law, but he has no plans to scrapping the health tax. He defended the levy, which adds to Ontario's health-care system coffers.

There are various proposals from municipalities and residents to rename the health tax or pass it on to employees. Mary Lou Ambrogio of the Forest City Institute lamented keeping the health tax is one promise that McGuinty apparently intends to keep.