Heat your Home Tax-Free

Drop taxes on home heating before snow falls: Layton

OTTAWA – New Democrat Leader Jack Layton is calling on Stephen Harper to give hardworking families a break and immediately remove the five percent HST/GST from home heating before the snow falls.

“I’ve crisscrossed this country more than once, you know – and I see people struggling right now, more than I’ve ever seen,” said Layton. “I’m asking Mr. Harper to put partisanship aside and work with me to do the right thing.”

Speaking today at the party’s federal council meeting, Layton said Stephen Harper has broken his promise to make life more affordable for Canadians, but New Democrats are willing to work with the Prime Minister to help seniors and working families as they struggle with heating bills this winter.

“We’re seeing home heating costs skyrocket in many parts of the country. Here in Ontario, home heating costs have risen 17 percent in six months, in large part because of Harper’s HST,” said Layton. “With winter fast approaching, New Democrats recognize that something has to be done, now.”

Layton is also asking Harper to re-introduce the home and ecoEnergy Retrofit Program, so families can retrofit their homes and further reduce heating bills.

“Restarting the retrofit program, along with other actions to spur on green industries, will result in a dynamic new era of job creation, energy efficiency and energy security,” said Layton. “Reshaping energy policy for the 21st century means moving away from fossil-fuel dependence toward a green energy future. This will mean more jobs, less pollution and lower heating bills for Canadians.”

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