WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2011

THE LONDON FREE PRESS

A3

ontariovotes POCKETBOOK ITEMS OF THE THREE PARTIES

WHAT THE LIBERALS ARE OFFERING:
A TUITION BREAK 30%
How much you save:
University undergraduate: $1,600 a year. College student: $730 a year.

A SENIORS PROPERTY TAX DEFERRAL PROGRAM

How much you save:
Seniors can choose to defer increases in property taxes until they sell their home. Interest and administration costs will be paid by the provincial government.

A HEALTHY HOME RENOVATION TAX CREDIT

How much you save:
Up to $1,500 (15% of up to $10,000 in accessibilityrelated renovation costs). Seniors who renovate their own homes to make it more accessible by adding things such as a new ramp to replace the front steps, or a walk-in shower. A family member who renovates his or her own home to allow a senior to move in with them also would be eligible.

A CHILDRENS ACTIVITY TAX CREDIT

How much you save:
Current $50 tax credit doubles to $100 per child.

Who qualifies:
Families who make less than $160,000 a year in combined income (Takes effect Jan. 1, pro-rated).

Who qualies:

Who qualifies:
Parents who enrol their kids in activities such as hockey, soccer, music lessons or art classes.

$1,600
How much you save:

SAVE

$1,000S
How much you save:

SAVE

Who qualifies:
Any senior (65 or older) who owns their own home.

$1,500
How much you save:
Your GO Transit fare.

SAVE

$100
from $1,100 in July 2013.

SAVE

FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN
Up to $6,500 a year in daycare costs per kid.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN

Government will subsidize after-school programs, particularly physical activities, for kids. Amount saved depends on cost of program.

GO TRANSIT MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE

AN ONTARIO CHILD BENEFIT INCREASE

How much you get: The OCB will increase to $1,310 annually Who qualifies: Low-income families on social assistance or
working. In 2011, the cutoff for a family with one child is $33,750 in household income. Add $13,750 for each additional child. SAVE

Who qualifies: Every four- and five-year-

old in the province, depending on availability. It willl be expanded across Ontario in all public schools by fall 2014.

Who qualifies:
Anyone who experiences a 15-minute or longer delay caused by GO Transit. It unforesee wouldnt apply in unforeseen circumstances, such as a snowstorm.

Who qualifies:
Kids between the ages of six and 12. Program starts in 2015, after the complete rollout of full-day kindergarten.

BUSINESS TAX CUTS

How much you save:
SAV

$6,500
:

SAVE

1,310

$$$
HST BREAK
n A reduction in home heating and electricity bills. The Tories would take the 8% provincial portion of HST the other 5% is the federal governments take off electricity and home heating bills. The debt retirement charge also would disappear from electricity bills. That would mean an average family could save $275 a year.

SAVE

GO FARE
GAS THE SMART METERS
n To do away with smart meters. The PCs would allow consumers to opt out of time-of-use pricing and go back to the old system of tiered block pricing. How much consumers save would depend on their use. n To make more money available in the Ontario Student Aid Program (OSAP). The $30 million in extra loans would come from cancelling an equivalent amount in scholarships for foreign students.

SAVE

Reducing small-business tax rate to 4% from 4.5%. Committed to reduce general corporate tax rate to 10% from 11.5%. E

Who qualifies:
Ontario businesses.

0.5-1.5%

WHAT THE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVES ARE OFFERING:

TAX RELIEF
n An income tax cut: Tax on the first $75,000 of income would drop 5%. That would mean an extra $258 for someone earning $70,000 a year. n Income splitting: Couples would be able to share up to $50,000 of income. For a one-income family earning $70,000, they would save $1,363 in taxes. It would be less for dual-income families, but a couple earning the same $70,000 would pay $476 less in taxes.

AXE ECO FEES

n The removal of eco fees, which range from a few cents for a gallon of paint to a few bucks for a flat-screen television. n A corporate tax cut to 10% from 11.5% by 2013.

GAS TAX CASH

n Gas tax cash for smaller towns. The PCs would dole out $60 million annually in gas tax revenue to smaller towns. Right now, the 89 largest municipalities get a share of the gas tax and must use it for public transit. The Tories would increase that to 344 towns and villages for transportation projects.

$275 WHAT THE NDP IS OFFERING:

HST BREAKS
n Removal of the HST from hydro and home heating. n The NDP would give motorists a break by taking the provincial portion of the HST off gasoline at a rate of 1% per year. When fully implemented, the HST reduction measures will save the average family $375 annually.

SAVE

10%
CAP ON GAS PRICES
n A weekly cap on gas prices to stop what they consider gouging at the pump. The Ontario Energy Board would oversee it.

SAVE

$
OTHER INCENTIVES
n An increase in the hourly minimum wage to $11 from $10. n A freeze of post-secondary tuition fees for four years and the elimination of interest on OSAP loans. n A freeze of transit fares by taking over 50% of cities mass-transit operating costs. n An end to ambulance fees.

CORPORATE TAX CUT

UTILITY SAVINGS
n Several programs designed to encourage people to take steps that will result in lower utility costs. n The New Democrats would provide rebates of up to $5,000 for homeowners to make energy-saving home renovations, such as installing energy-efficient windows, doors and appliances. n They also plan to cut waste from the electricity sector by merging hydro agencies which they expect will result in taxpayer savings.

$375

SAVE

$5,000

SAVE

$11 MINIMUM WAGE