McGuinty’s HST will penalize hockey kids: NDP

Horwath calls on voters to send a message on Sept 17

Toronto – NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Julian Heller, NDP Candidate for St. Paul’s, say Dalton McGuinty’s Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) will penalize hundred of thousands of hockey kids across the province.

“Parents with kids in recreational or competitive hockey know that ice time is expensive and makes up a significant portion of registration fees. The HST will mean a new 8 per cent tax on ice rentals and higher registration fees,” said Horwath. “This by-election is a perfect opportunity to send the McGuinty Liberals a message about this unfair tax.”

Horwath was joined by Heller, concerned families and their kids at the Phil White Arena in St.Paul’s today discussing how McGuinty Liberals’ HST plan will add 8 per cent more to the cost of renting ice time for teams.

Currently, more than 250,000 young people participate in organized hockey leagues in Ontario. Unfortunately, many more can’t afford to play at all.

“Today we’re blowing the whistle on the McGuinty Liberals,” said Heller, a former hockey convener at the North Toronto Hockey League.

“Instead of making hockey more affordable for parents, Dalton McGuinty’s HST will make hockey even more expensive. The McGuinty Liberals just don’t seem to care about the impact this could have on families,” said Heller.

Municipalities and sport advocacy groups across the province have expressed concerns on how the HST will impact families and the overall goal of health promotion.

“The McGuinty Liberals can try to ‘rag the puck’ on this issue all they want, but the fact remains that increasing costs to parents won’t promote healthy, active lifestyles,” said the NDP Leader. “This election might not change the government, but it’s your chance to send a message by sending Julian Heller to Queen’s Park.”

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