Ontario offers tax break on Energy Star products
TORONTO, ONTARIO - The province is giving a tax break to people who buy certain energy-efficient products.
Starting July 19, anyone who buys Energy Star light bulbs and appliances won't be charged provincial sales tax at the till.
The deal, announced Wednesday by Premier Dalton McGuinty, will last for one year.
But the opposition said this is just a flip-flop designed to get the Liberals re-elected Oct. 10.
Conservative Tim Hudak said the Liberals cancelled a similar tax credit program in 2004 that also refunded the PST to customers who bought Energy Star products.
He said the Liberals have resurrected the tax break just in time for the fall election.
"This is conversion on the road to electoral defeat," Hudak said. But McGuinty said the Liberal refund is different and more convenient because people don't have to wade through applications – they are exempted from paying PST right at the cash register.
"We've brought back a plan today which is a much stronger incentive," McGuinty said, adding the previous Conservative tax credit only had a "modest impact."
"We've gone beyond that."
The announcement is part of the Liberals' climate-change plan being rolled out as the summer election campaign gets underway.
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The CIB and private sector partners to invest $1.7 billion in Lake Erie Connector
TORONTO - The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and ITC Investment Holdings (ITC) have signed an agreement in principle to invest $1.7 billion in the Lake Erie Connector project.
Under the terms of the agreement, the CIB will invest up to $655 million or up to 40% of the project cost. ITC, a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., and private sector lenders will invest up to $1.05 billion, the balance of the project's capital cost.
The CIB and ITC Investment Holdings signed an agreement in principle to invest $1.7B in the Lake Erie Connector project.
The Lake Erie Connector is a proposed 117 kilometre underwater…
