TORONTO - The New Democrats say the government's advice to stock up now to save on the upcoming harmonized sales tax shows what a bad idea the levy really is.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says advice from the revenue minister to buy gym memberships, summer trips and theatre subscriptions ahead of the tax is an admission that the HST is going to cost families more than they can afford.
Horwath says if the tax is so bad, the Liberals should simply get rid of it.
Revenue Minister John Wilkinson says there are benefits to making some purchases ahead of Saturday, when the first phase of the transition to the merged sales tax begins.
While the tax won't be in effect until July 1st, anything purchased as of May 1st but used after July 1st -- such as an airplane ticket -- will be subject to the 13 per cent tax.
That may take many by surprise, but Wilkinson says the rules have been posted on the government's website since October, and adds it falls to businesses to make sure they're charging the appropriate tax.
He says the government has always been honest about the fact that the HST will increase the price of some goods, but notes the plan also includes income tax cuts and will create jobs.
