An open letter to MPP Sylvia Jones;

I wanted to make sure you were aware of the severe, and probably unintended, impact that the new harmonized sales tax (HST) will have on the operations of Orangeville Minor Hockey (OMH). OMH has a total operating budget of about $850,000. Of this $500,000 is the expense of renting ice. Presently this expense is only subject to the 5% GST, but once the HST is in place a further 8% will be added for a total tax rate of 13%. This will have a negative impact of $40,000 on the OMH budget.

OMH is a volunteer organization that provides a healthy & constructive environment for over 1,200 local youth. It seems unwise to so significantly impact an organization like this.

The Federal government recently introduced the child fitness tax credit to help promote an active lifestyle for youth. The Province never matched this tax credit. Instead the Province appears to be moving in the opposite direction by making youth sports even less affordable and accessible for families.

As mentioned earlier I am sure that this was never the intention of the Provincial government when the HST was being considered. Please consider measures that would help to at least keep organized sports as affordable as they are now, instead of making them less so.
Bruce Taylor,
Orangeville