Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is applauding Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie’s pledge to cut middle class income taxes and remove the provincial sales tax from home heating and hydro bills.

“Costs are going up for everything, especially home heating, so Crombie’s promise to cut income taxes as well as sales taxes on home heating and bills hydro will make life better for Ontario families,” said CTF Ontario Director Jay Goldberg. “Premier Doug Ford promised income tax relief for the middle class six years ago, but taxpayers are still waiting on the government to deliver. It’s good to see the Ontario Liberals promise a middle class a tax break.”

Crombie is promising to create a new income tax bracket that would reduce tax rates for the middle class. Currently, all income earned between $51,446 and $102,894 is taxed at 9.15 per cent. Crombie’s new bracket would cover income between $51,446 and $75,000 and would be taxed at a lower rate of 7.15 per cent.

The CTF estimates this tax cut would save an Ontario taxpayer up to $471 per year.  

Crombie also promised to remove the eight per cent provincial portion of the HST from home heating bills and hydro bills if elected in the next election.

The typical Ontario family spends about $2,100 per year on home energy, according to the Financial Accountability Office. That means Crombie’s tax cut would save the average family more than $150 a year.

“It costs families a lot of money to keep their homes warm in the winter, keep the lights on and run the washer and dryer,” said Goldberg. “While the federal government’s carbon tax keeps making those basics more expensive, Crombie’s promise to take the provincial portion of the HST off home energy bills will make a big difference.”