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November 12, 2009 at 1:32:05 PM
s
What about the new houses taxes....

November 12, 2009 at 1:47:55 PM
Irwin
very nice. We need more taxes... give us more. We love taxes !!!

Exempting coffee and newspaper would do Canadians no good. There will be HST tax on so many things which were exempt before. This HST idea is totally bad in this economical times and will hurt working families. There will be HST on home purchases and many high price items as well. Taking it away on coffee or newspaper is a joke. Keep it up politicians. Time to move away from the province or the country I guess.

November 12, 2009 at 1:51:45 PM
gb686
sure, tax the hell out of everyone...... what about the billions of tax payers bucks that the government has loss? given away? and gift packed to various consulting companies and other 'buddies'?? Tax money lost in that stupid Gun registry, and health care schemes. When will Canadians say enough? I don't see any of that 'lost' money coming back into the books.

November 12, 2009 at 1:54:41 PM
H Kumar
I just think the whole HST thing is a garbage. You add recycling fees to electronics (even if someones buying it for the first time, they pay for our politician's junk that they keep changing lavishly), now HST to pay for their over expenditures and irresponsible leaderships. People are as it is making ends meet, now add the full tax on everything and the cummulative totals add up! Insurance rates go up to pay for all the losses these monster companies had through the recession (poor investment strategies), stupid rule books that put a driver at fault even if someone rolls back or marks a minut scratch on a BUMBER. thats' what BUMPERS are for! Tuition fees don't seem to be stopping, health cuts, benefit cuts, cuts..cuts..n cuts for public.. BUT.. gain gain gain AND MORE GAIN for the swine politicians.

November 12, 2009 at 2:06:36 PM
Aisha - (North York
Another damn tax are you for real???

Hmm which meal anywhere costs less then $4???

even the kids happy meals @ mcdonalds are over $5

Final opinion this city and the government are CORRUPT!!

November 12, 2009 at 2:18:51 PM
Joe Ring
The new tax (HST) is a war on the UNDERGROUND economy where cash is used and the government doesn't get their cut. With a tax on everything, they control the product and have knowledge of everything bought and sold. Ask a politician how the new tax will effect the underground economy and see what they say.

November 12, 2009 at 2:21:06 PM
Richard
what about condo fees. Some buildings have high condo fees,
and will be paying this hst on
all expenses of the building, and on top an additional hst on the total condo fees, which include expenses of hydro,gas, etc. which has hst on them? Has someone looked into this?
It looks like condo owners will be paying double HST?
Richard

November 12, 2009 at 2:21:09 PM
Youdi
By the looks of the picture I now realize why Duncan would want fast food to be exempt from the HST.

November 12, 2009 at 2:22:55 PM
Derek Goodchild
What consumers do not know is that if your bill is under $4 its tax exempt. If you buy 2 meals under $4 on one receipt you will be taxed. These are the things that are hidden from our so called trusted Government. I am in debt as much like almost all of the country. I can't just make my employeer pay me more like the govt raises taxes and subway fares and the such. Wages of the middle to lower class does not rise with the inflation rate. We are all in quicksand and slowly sinking from trying to get ahead. If we were paying the HST right now how much would gas for our cars cost...add 8%. Total tax on fuel is almost 50% right now...Nickel and dimed to death..its more loonied to death then anything else. We need to stop all of this gouging. The Govt wants us to save more...

November 12, 2009 at 2:31:46 PM
Kat
You can hardly get anything for $4, certainly not a meal. When did coffee and a donut become a meal? I got a slice and pop for $3.66 (that inlcudes tax) the other day, and Subway has a selection of sandwiches for $3.29 (no drink to go with it). Even a Big Mac combo is now $7 (nearly double what it was just 4 or 5 years ago). So much for promoting healthy eating.

November 12, 2009 at 2:45:06 PM
David Brennan
A lot of Seniors will be hit hard again if they are living in Condo's or even renting Apt's. Most of us are on fixed incomes & plus the new Car Tax the Mayor past on to us is making living very very difficult. I am sure the Government will not increase our pensions. We have all worked hard raised our Family's to be left high & dry by the PROVINCE NOT FAIR
Thankyou DRB.

November 12, 2009 at 3:03:11 PM
Dennis
Why does the liberals always says "The other provinces" like we care.If the other provinces jump in the lake,does that mean we should too.Why not exempt taxes on meals at say 10-20 dollars so people can at least eat healthy.I thought that the mcguinty government is commited to good nutritius meals for children.So now the happy meals are exempted,do they expect the people will take the kids to Red Lobster?No! Thety will take them to fast food places.Take one step forward and two steps back.Ontario liberals do the two step routine yet again.Speak one truth to hide two lies.

November 12, 2009 at 3:23:42 PM
Chi
Why are they putting low tax on fast food?! They should tax it as much as possible! :)

November 12, 2009 at 3:25:32 PM
Palwan
This is great! More taxes on top of a struggling economy. Born and raised here in Toronto, I thought we had it good because of the health care, but who cares when you’re paying so much in taxes. There's a tax for everything! We can’t even afford to stay here anymore, no wonder why people are moving to places like Manitoba. If the Government wants to add this tax then they should cut another one. If they want to raise some money then stop spending it amongst their political parties!! Enough is enough! Who should decide, the people who are affected or the people who know how to spend tax payer’s money on things like a new boat or scandal?

November 12, 2009 at 3:27:38 PM
Ben
Let us reason for a moment. What good will it do for the people with the items on the list in this article--or should i say, what difference does it make? Well, i will give you the coffee one... ok, thank you so much for that gift! We all drink coffee. Second, newspapers. Are you kidding me? Most people don't even read newspapers. They get their news online. That is why newspaper are in danger of going down and not existing anymore. And third, fast food... i mean fast food orders under $4. Where are you going to get fast food for under that price? Nowhere is the answer!!! So, taking a look at the list, this is just a feeble attempt to somehow fool us all into thinking this is a good idea. So with the list Duncan proposes, I quote Meatloaf (sarcastically of course), "two out of three ain't bad!"

November 12, 2009 at 3:28:26 PM
Tom
meals under $4 will be exempt? Just like everyone else is saying... what meal is under $4?? That's ok.. I'm just going to order everything separate from now on. 1 order fries please. $2.47 here you go. Ok 1 chicken sandwich please $3.25 here you go... lol... The government needs to wake up.... they are supposed to be there for us, not against us!

November 12, 2009 at 3:30:19 PM
EB686MINI
so where does this leave us...unable to keep our jobs. unbale to afford our homes.unable to cloth our children.unable to get our rightful health care, by the way, way to go on the H1N1, still can't get one if i wanted too, but im sure the jaba the hut at the top did...and what's next...have we had enough yet!!! is that your goal for us to fear live its self...or just make us feel we owe ya one...well,thanks...for nothing.

November 12, 2009 at 3:44:09 PM
Leo
>>What about the new houses taxes....

Are you kidding? They wont give up most profitable taxes. One house sake will bring as much as 100000 meals under 5$.

November 12, 2009 at 3:46:23 PM
Disgruntled Citizen
We will never ever see an end to this corruption peacefully, or by complaining, or by writing letters. The only ones that are supposed to be listening to our complaints are the ones who are introducing this cash grab in the first place. Taxes will always keep going up, the middle and lower classes will NEVER get any breaks, we will always be the ones having to pay so the upper classes can live their rich lives.

November 12, 2009 at 3:48:36 PM
Steve Carr
Great! True Canadian staples of everyday life are exempt...donuts, coffee and McDonalds. What a country!

November 12, 2009 at 3:57:57 PM
Cyndy Lou
I don't know where everyone's idea of a so called "new tax" is coming from. This is the same taxes we have always paid just instead of it being a PST and GST it is now one tax, the HST. It is already alive and well in many provinces. Condo fees? Are you serious. If you want the luxury of living in a Condo that has all the extras pay the money. Don't sit and complain that it is going to be taxed. Don't like it don't live in a condo. Kids meals at McDonalds are 5 dollars? What McDonalds do you go to. They are $2.99. Complaining about how much it will cost to eat out then why not try NOT EATING ALL THE JUNK FOOD AND COOK A MEAL AT HOME.
Anyone whom can afford to eat a meal out has nothing to say about the taxes being levied.

November 12, 2009 at 4:08:10 PM
Cora
If we don't say anything... nothing will happen and the politicians will just tax us all away to our death.

November 12, 2009 at 4:13:39 PM
Kerstin
In Europe, the people would be in the streets demonstating, here, we just sit and complain. Anyone doing anything about our government spending? I also hate that the price of the product is displayed without the tax, so everything you buy, you have to add mentally the tax to it to figure out how much the product actually costs. I would love to see the price including taxes. If it says 10 Dollars, don't ask me at the cashir for 11.50.

November 12, 2009 at 4:15:33 PM
Northerner
What other scheme can the government come up with to get more taxes? Ontario is one of the highest taxed provinces in Canada. They take every means to tax us to death (as a matter of fact we are taxed for dying). The government is also in the process of taxing us with Smart Meters. Great for the north when we are down to -40 in the winter months and need more heat. Taxes, taxes, taxes. Goverment take in and spend to their hearts content. When is it going to stop?

November 12, 2009 at 4:28:54 PM
Jana Thompson
I am very concerned with this new tax!! It is hard enough to put food on the table and with a 13% tax on stuff it will be that much harder. I am glad that diapers and car seats and kids stuff are exempt from the tax as I have two small kids!! I do not care about the morning paper, or the coffee or the fast food as we do not do any of those things often if at all!!
I just hope that the government has really looked at all the issues concerning this tax before it starts in July. I feel with taxes in general that it is a waste of our hard earned money. Why can not we go back to the good old days when the price you saw is what you paid and the scary thing is that I am thiry years old!!!!! Jana

November 12, 2009 at 4:30:17 PM
Barb
What a great government we have! People are losing their jobs and the government is imposing more taxes. Where do they think the money is coming from? Guess I will have to plant another money tree in my backyard.

November 12, 2009 at 4:32:14 PM
BB6
"Fast food exempt for HST." Hrmm, its very apparent just looking at Dwight Duncan that he's clearly looking out for number one (himself).

November 12, 2009 at 4:36:26 PM
Lina
Whats this more money they are trying to get from us. why dont they go to the city hall or government buildings and look what the people in there are using our money on. why not look at that and leave us alone we already pay to much.

on top of that this is a bad year .

November 12, 2009 at 4:58:59 PM
Leo elsewhere
Come on guys and gals... You want to vote the Liberals in time and time again. Well, that's what you get for letting in McGuinty for a second term with a strong majority. He and his cronies will continue to get you for all you've got until you finally wake up and vote for someone else. And, by the way, Cindy-Lou: the HST will affect a lot more than what you are telling people. The current PST is charged mainly for consumer goods and there are many services that are PST-exempt presently that will become taxable as of next July. I hope you will be happy to pay even more for a great many services that you are now receiving PST-free in this Province.

November 12, 2009 at 5:57:13 PM
Steven
Thank you so much, Mr.Duncan! We are so happy for the $4 tax exemption.

November 12, 2009 at 6:08:49 PM
Thomas
So next year my property tax is going up, water bill is going up, garbage tax is going up, and now with the HST everything else I purchase will go up. I honestly think that maybe it is time for my family and business to move out of Toronto and Ontario in general.

November 12, 2009 at 6:21:34 PM
Alan
These politicians have no grasp of reality whatsoever. McNutty and his crew are destroying any possibility of recovery in this economy. If they need more money for their parties and trips, then cut their salaries. They are the most overpaid bunch of idiots I have ever seen. We need a way to impeach them and throw them out on their butts.
I am fed up with the lot of them.
Time to give them a dose of relaity. GET OUT and take dippy Mayor Miller with you. What a bunch of scum sucking failures!

November 12, 2009 at 6:30:42 PM
Laurence C
So - let me understand this logic - raising taxes creates jobs? What we have here is the Lewis Carol way of economics.

November 12, 2009 at 6:31:44 PM
Ryan
Tax, tax, tax, YAK! I am sick to death of these Taxoticans. WE need to stand up together and make our outrage known. In any other country they would storm the gates!!!!! What are we going to do. Nothing. Because we are all a bunch of wimps!

November 12, 2009 at 6:50:56 PM
Robert (North York)
The last thing this province needed was additional taxes.
Someone might remind the premier that he ran on a no new taxes pledge and that we are in the middle of the worse recession in 80 years!

November 12, 2009 at 6:55:41 PM
Maria
Well here we go again!!!!! The fat asses are taxing all hard working Canadians who are trying to make a living by supporting there families and paying there bills and all these idiots can do is not tax us on a 4 dollar meal. How long did it take you to think that one up Dwight!!!!! How about you idiots give your heads a shake, maybe that will knock some sense into it. With the way the economy has been and going we are all struggling or trying to look for employment. Where are all these jobs that you say are coming with the new HST?? Maybe you should trying walking in the hard working Canadian shoes to see what it's like before you taxe us to death!!!!!!!!!

November 12, 2009 at 6:57:23 PM
DJ
1 lrg reg,1 lrg dd,2 lrg blk.Seperate bills please.HST is the only new tax that can be implemented as there is nothing else that isn't taxed.The exemptions they are now giving is because of the complaints from the population.Keep up the complaining,it does help.Our elected officials may not listen,but the rest of the world does.Who wants to come to a province where taxes wind up being half of your vacation funds.Torotonians are really going to be the ones that hurt the most because they are about to vote in another liberal for mayor.It will cost them millions to clean up after the big pride jamboree.It'll cost millions to clean up after the pan-am games.Crime will skyrocket during these events.Why do you think nobody else was was putting in bids for these events.Go get em liberals.

November 12, 2009 at 7:00:45 PM
D.Wadhwani
Liberals are always like that, they have made this excellent province a hell to live. The tax payers from Ontario pay taxes for the luxry of government.I hope the ontarians will never ever vote/elect liberals again specially south asians.

November 12, 2009 at 7:51:15 PM
Eric
BIG DEAL!!! Its like peeing in the ocean and expecting it to make a difference. What about my utilities and gas for my car?

Maybe if the Fiberals hadn't have been spending money like drunken sailors this wouldn't be needed.

We get the health tax jammed down our throats and they want to lay nurses off, what's with that?

What about "no new taxes" Dalton?

Time for Dalton and his merry band of henchmen to be shown the door. To the Conservatives and the NDP, don't let this die, keep bringing this up every day, start and ad campaign against the HST.

November 12, 2009 at 8:22:42 PM
Paul
lets be reasonable...do we not enjoy clean water, good roads, good hosiptals and good overall services? the cost of everything increases and therefore the money has to come from SOMEWHERE people. the government was creative in their way to generate revenuse. HST follows what other provinces have already been doing. they are trying to make it alittle easier on us with the new exemptions...let's cut them a break. it will benifit our kids in the long run.

November 12, 2009 at 8:54:50 PM
Jen
Seriously the luxury of living in a condo?

Most people who live in condos are not living the high life....we can not afford to purchase a house in the city on a single income.

Our only option for home ownersip in the city is a condo.

We pay property taxes just like everyone else, we pay maintenace fees to cover off the expense of the building like garbage removal, we pay fees to have recycling picked up on top of our property taxes.

How is this a luxury...

November 12, 2009 at 9:04:18 PM
Neo Jon
It's well established that in the hundred plus years of government that all we see are promises of hope and change but in reality see results of tax (theft) and pain (violence).

Time to adopt VOLUNTARYISM amongst ourselves and stop kowtowing to these clowns.

November 12, 2009 at 9:26:30 PM
Patryk
You can talk all you want here... When are you going to hit the streets and do something about it.

Now a day it seems that all we do is talk, while the politicians, banks and big corporations take away living dollars and our freedoms.

Get out there and do something. Stop watching TV and start asking questions.

Cash is King.

November 12, 2009 at 9:26:56 PM
AM
First of all not all condos are for the rich. There are condo townhouses for elderly and other people unable to do yard work and outdoor maintenance. They pay extra to have someone take care of it for them. Secondly, since things like dairy, produce and other healthy options you can prepare at home are going to get nailed with HST, for a lot of low income families McD's is the only affordable option to make sure their kids are getting fed. There is a growing number of children living in families well below the poverty line in this country. I don't mean their parents can't afford to buy them a wii...their parents can't afford clothes, decent food and heat for their homes. This doesn't happen in other countries, or just in the movies. It happens right here in Canada.