Queen’s Park – Dalton McGuinty’s televised HST sales pitch is a desperate, last-ditch effort that will only strengthen Ontarians’ opposition to the wrong-headed new tax, NDP finance critic Peter Tabuns said today.

“The premier’s desperate ‘strong medicine’ ads are leaving only a bitter taste in the mouths of Ontario families,” Tabuns said. “Instead of a last-ditch campaign to sell a tax that no one wants, the McGuinty Liberals should be listening to Ontario families and hitting pause on their plans to bring in the HST.”

Despite the premier’s carefully-scripted TV campaign, no Ontarian will be unclear about the true costs of the HST once the price of everyday essentials starts going up July 1, Tabuns said. The average Ontario family will pay nearly $800 more per year in higher costs once the HST takes effect.

Tabuns urged people to join the 250,000 Ontarians who have signed the NDP’s anti-HST petition at www.unfairtaxgrab.com.