Tories launch new ads condemning rumoured HST hike
Posted Mar 19, 2010 06:00:49 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nova Scotia Tories say an increase to the sales tax could be on its way as early as next month.
The party has launched an ad campaign that will run in newspapers across the province over the next week voicing opposition to the rumoured tax hike.
The ads say a sales tax hike is the easy way out and hints at disastrous consequences for Nova Scotians if the HST returns to 15 per cent – such as cancelled home renovations and tighter day-to-day budgets that will force families to leave the province for higher-paying jobs.
PC finance critic Allan MacMaster tells the Chronicle Herald the NDP will likely increase the sales tax by two points, though he says he’s heard suggestions for a five percentage point hike.
Finance Minister Graham says the Tories are just speculating – though he admits a tax hike is still on the table.
“The answer is yes, it’s under consideration,” he said. “To put it another way, it hasn’t been ruled out as an option.”
The Progressive Conservatives say government should cut spending before looking for a tax hike – but Steele says there was very little agreement in his public consultations on where to cut.
