HST meetings a missed opportunity for premier

our opinion

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Posted 2 months ago

The trouble with majority governments is that sometimes they don't listen, or even appear to listen.

That's because they have a majority and don't, in practical terms, need to listen, especially to the opposition, which opposes everything the government does on principle.

But majority governments turn a deaf ear to their critics at their own peril, which is what Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is doing right now.

Last week, McGuinty said he won't agree to hold public hearings on the harmonized sales tax (HST) across Ontario.

Instead, he expects voters will pass judgment on the new tax in 2011 -- when the next provincial election will be held.

There are just a few problems with the premier's position.

One is that Ontario residents -- if letters to the editor atThe Barrie Examinerare any indication -- want to tell the Liberals what they think of the HST right now, not later.

Second is that the HST will have been running for more than a year when Ontarians next go to the polls, far too late to do anything about it.

Perhaps McGuinty's thinking is that it's already too late.

The federal government has already given Ontario $4.3 billion to combine the 8% provincial sales tax (PST) and the 5% goods and services tax (GST) to create the 13% HST.

It's due to kick in July 1, 2010, and there's little that can be done to stop the HST. The Conservatives and New Democrats don't have enough MPPs in the Ontario legislature to defeat the Liberals on any motion, let alone one which the government has pushed so hard.

But just because McGuinty doesn't have to listen to the opposition, because he doesn't need the support of even one other MPP, doesn't mean he should not listen.

And just because he knows there is a groundswell of opposition to the HST, it doesn't mean he shouldn't take the time to hear it.

Public meetings could be used to help explain the HST to Ontarians, what the benefits are and why the province is pushing ahead with it.

By saying no to public meetings, however, McGuinty is saying he doesn't care about the opposition, doesn't want to hear it and doesn't need to know the HST is unpopular.

It also looks like the Liberals have something to hide, because they're unwilling to face HST opponents.

It doesn't help, of course, when opposition MPPs act like spoiled brats in the legislature.

The Conservatives have threatened to use every delaying tactic to force public hearings on the HST. Last week they disrupted second reading on the bill several times by banging their desks, repeatedly interrupting the Speaker and shouting down Finance Minister Dwight Duncan. Tory MPPs Peter Shurman and Ted Chudleigh were also thrown out of the legislature for unparliamentary language.

These antics do nothing to make HST opposition credible. In fact, the effect is just the opposite.

Sometimes our partisan politicians would oppose a sunrise if they thought it was government policy.

None of this lets McGuinty and company off the hook for the poor job they've done selling the HST.

It's always tough to sell any new tax, and the Liberals don't have a great track record in this area.

But pubic meetings could be used as an HST selling tool. McGuinty is missing an opportunity not to hold them just because no one can make him do it.