THUNDER BAY – The time for spin is over. The HST is now in place. It is now time for the McGuinty Government to start showing how their new tax is helping create solid long-term jobs in Ontario. For months now, almost every member of the Liberal caucus has shared how economist Jack Mintz has stated that the HST will create 600,000 jobs over the next ten years.
Simple math means that 5,000 jobs per month, over the next ten years will be created if Mintz is right as the McGuinty team has repeatedly assured Ontarians.
The next Ontario election is under 15 months off, so that means there should be 75,000 new jobs created in Ontario by the time voters go to the polls.
If that happens, and the economy along with manufacturing jobs shows a solid rebound, then it should be easy for the Liberals to win a third mandate from Ontario voters.
However it could be that McGuinty has planted the seeds of his government’s own destruction with his new tax. The most obvious indication that the HST is here comes at the gas pump, where the eight cent jump on Canada was plain to see.
It could be that McGuinty and his Liberal team have forgotten how a proposed gasoline tax hike that the Joe Clark government proposed led to the defeat of Clark’s government.
There is something about hitting consumers in the gas tank that really impacts voter anger. It is a message that perhaps in the face of quiet opposition that the Premier forgot.
That of course is just my opinion, as always, your mileage may vary.
James Murray