Fact Check: Provincial NDP

- The NDP government of Nova Scotia collected $654 dollars more in tax per capita from Nova Scotians. The increased tax burden for a family of four: $2,616.

- 80 per cent of the NDP government’s “better than estimated” result is from higher tax revenues.

- Public Accounts Vol. 1 documents (page 43) say HST revenue is “higher than the prior year primarily as a result of the two percentage point increase in the HST rate that became effective on July 1, 2010.”

- The Finance Minister claimed the higher HST revenue came from increased consumer spending but consumer spending over the same period in Nova Scotia was flat: 0.1 per cent, the third worst retails sales number in the country (Source: StatsCan).

- The Finance Minister has said gas and diesel sales drop when prices are high but motive fuel tax revenues are up $7.2 million over the year before.

- The NDP government does not report how much of the $291 million in additional HST revenue came from gas and diesel sales.

BACK IN THE RED IN 2012

- The NDP government is estimating departmental spending will increase by $471 million in 2011-12, a six per cent increase over the previous year.

- Billion dollar swing: From a surplus of $569 million to a deficit of $390 million in 2012 is a swing of $959 million.

- In 2012, the debt will grow by $678.9 million, which is 3 times the reduction in 2011.

Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie says the NDP government’s tax grab is hurting the economy and costing jobs.

“Contrary to the story that was spun for them yesterday, Nova Scotians know that higher taxes kill jobs and hurt our economy in the long run,” said Baillie.

www.pccaucus.ns.ca

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