THUNDER BAY – The McGuinty Government is under fire from the Ontario Progressive Conservatives over the eco-fees being charged on many products.
The Ontario PC Caucus state they have obtained correspondence between the CEO of Stewardship Ontario and senior officials in John Gerretsen’s and Dalton McGuinty’s offices, which undermines the latest attempt by the McGuinty Liberals to deflect blame for the eco-tax grab on third parties.
Gemma Zecchini in a letter to John Gerretsen, wrote, “Stewardship Ontario has no jurisdiction to implement an audit or compliance mechanism as suggested in your letter. At the moment, only the Ontario government under the authority of the Consumer Protection Act may pursue businesses…”
“We are prepared to work with you and your officials to meet the objectives set out in your letter to us. In order to do so, we will require changes to the Municipal Hazardous and Special Waste program plan that was approved by you on September 22, 2009.”
“I would respectfully ask that the parties refrain from any finger-pointing or accusations, especially in the media.”
In her letter to John Gerretsen, Stewardship Ontario CEO, and long-time Liberal, Gemma Zecchini, confirms that Gerretsen himself personally approved the Liberal eco-tax scheme and details how the responsibility for enforcing the tax falls on the McGuinty Government alone. Zecchini’s letter also accuses the McGuinty Government of ‘finger-pointing’ in order to assign Stewardship Ontario blame for “problems not of its making and outside of its powers to remedy,” further exposing Liberal attempts to dodge responsibility for the tax.
To date, the McGuinty Liberals have attempted to deflect blame for their eco-tax onto Ontario businesses, Stewardship Ontario, and previous Ontario Governments. While Dalton McGuinty continues to duck and dodge responsibility for his eco-tax, Tim Hudak has committed that an Ontario PC Government will eliminate it.
“Dalton McGuinty has tried to point his finger at Stewardship Ontario. He has tried to point his finger at Ontario businesses struggling to implement this arbitrary and illogical secret tax scheme. He has even tried to point his finger at previous governments. But the facts are clear, McGuinty Liberals alone are responsible for designing, approving, implementing and directing this tax,” charges Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak.
“Ontario families deserve better than six months of eHealth-style stonewalling. No scapegoat, no phony apology, no investigation, and no promise of ‘never again’ will fix this mess. As Premier I will get rid of Dalton McGuinty’s eco-tax,” said Hudak.