This has been a year of constant challenge for the McGuinty government at Queen’s Park as they prepare for an election 10 months from now.
Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Carol Mitchell says the Liberals experienced highs and lows as it pursued its agenda of tax reform and alternate energy production.
Mitchell says some difficult decisions had to be made to help strengthen Ontario’s competitiveness on the global economic stage.
She defends incentives to the manufacturing industry — especially automakers — to help get us past the lingering recession.
Mitchell believes the Harmonized Sales Tax brought in on Canada Day is a necessary economic tool despite loud criticism from residents and experts alike.
She points to the HST as part of a broader package of tax reform which accompanies targeted investments to help secure our province’s future prosperity.
Mitchell admits the eco-tax which came in quietly at the same time as the HST was mishandled from the outset.
She says nothing was properly laid out and few businesses actually knew how much eco-tax they should charge and on what products the levy should be applied to.
Mitchell says a tax on electronic waste being diverted from landfills is working.
Mitchell points to the Green Energy Act as a benefit to the province’s farmers.
She tells us 10-thousand farmers have signed up for solar production on their properties and many rural property owners signed leases to have wind turbines set up on their land in 2010.
