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McGuinty angrily denies that he may raise taxes

The Canadian Press
 
Updated: Sat. Jun. 14 2008 4:45 PM ET
CTV

OTTAWA — Premier Dalton McGuinty has angrily dismissed suggestions he may have to raise taxes to fund government programs if Ontario's economic downturn gets any more severe.

McGuinty told about 1,000 delegates to a Liberal meeting in Ottawa that his government is confident in its plan to deal with the slowing economy, but will remain flexible.

Reporters later asked McGuinty if that flexibility could include tax hikes to offset dropping government revenues, and got an uncharacteristically snippy response.

The premier loudly asked why anyone would raise taxes in a time of economic challenge, insisting that `not even the NDP support that.'

McGuinty seems to dislike questions about tax hikes after breaking a promise not to raise taxes in his first term by introducing a new health care premium of up to $900 for every Ontario worker.

He called reporters silly for daring to raise the issue.