Ontario to keep health tax despite rosy finances
Last Updated: Monday, April 23, 2007 | 4:27 PM ET
CBC News
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Ontario won't be scrapping its controversial health tax soon despite a report released Monday showing increased revenues for the province.
Finance Minister Greg Sorbara's report on the province's finances shows provincial revenues are up $200 million from one month ago and the province has a budget surplus.
'Part of my job is to live with political pressure.'— Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara
That does not mean he will consider doing away with the annual health tax of $60 to $900 per person introduced in 2004, he said.
"Part of my job is to live with political pressure," he said. "The fact is that the health premium provides I think this year some $2.8 billion that go directly into a better health-care system."
The government has made a commitment to review the health tax in 2009, he added.
A provincial election is scheduled for Oct. 10, 2007.
The Liberal government introduced the health tax on July 1, 2004, less than a year after it was elected on a promise not to raise taxes.
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