As of July 2012, payments for the Ontario sales tax credit, the Ontario energy and property tax credit, and the Northern Ontario energy credit will be combined as the Ontario Trillium Benefit and will be paid monthly. Because of this, your refund might be less than last year even though your numbers are similar.

Therefore, don’t count on a big refund when you file. Since recipients rely on the above for their usual refund come April and income tax is not payed on the income support, this will affect you tremendously.

There has also been changes to Allowable amount of medical expenses for other dependants (line 331) of your income tax form. The maximum $10,000 limit per eligible dependant has been removed. For more information, see Line 331.

CTV Consumer Alert has just done a segment on this. See the link and click on Tax Refunds. Go to  http://www.ctv.ca/consumer/

We move to the present provincial government now with it’s claims of an excellent record regarding our healthcare system and social services. Come on people, open your eyes. Our healthcare system is still under unprecedented strain after eight years and the pressure is only going to increase with an aging population. We can’t stop getting older so our healthcare system has to adjust and be supported for that reason. The government claims it’s increase in social assistance and disability payments every year, but what they don’t tell the public is the cuts in the services for these programs they made to pay for it. It didn’t increase the load on the taxpayer that the public may perceive, so don’t buy into that. You should have noticed by now that even just groceries have increase by seven to ten percent this year on your grocery bill, but income has not. Even food banks are under tremendous pressure they’ve never experienced before and not just by those in the social services sector, but by working families who have found it even more difficult to survive each month.

There’s no quick fix. Governments need a long term sustainable plan and it’s time the elite start to assist in these areas. Come October 6th, exercise your right and vote. Your vote can make a difference, believe me, but you need to vote.

More to come as we approach October 6th!

Originally, this government owned utility asked for a 9.6% increase, but scaled it back to 6.2%. They claim it will add about $1.86 to a typical monthly hydro bill. Whether you believe this figure or not it also depends on your usage and time pricing, if you’re on the Smart Meter system. Frankly their figures don’t make much sense, at least by my calculations. We average about $100 per month in hydro, add their 6.2% and it will add another 6.20 to the monthly bill which is far from their claimed $1.86. For those on assistance and using electric heat, you can easily see that your bill is going to rise substantially. One can’t forget that HST that has been on the bill for a while, and this rate increase will also raise the amount of HST on your bill as well. Once again, those on ODSP, OW, EI, CPP-D,CPP will have to struggle even more to make ends meet, with no help or relief in site. I suppose many will be in their homes with winter coats on all winter long and if it’s a long hot and humid summer, the results don’t look very nice. This shows another example of our McGuinty government failing not only the energy file, but the social file as well. With the threat of more rate hikes in the near future, over and above this one, it’s plain to see that many will find their electricity cut off when they just can’t pay the bill anymore. The provincial government initiated a 10% discount on hydro bills not too long ago, but then they allow the OPG to add a 6.2% rate hike, add the additional HST and your bill will be like it was before the reduction. It’s a vicious circle this government plays. Apparently the so called Debt Retirement Charge was set to be finished in 2012, but not now so you can look forward to seeing that on your bill for some time to come. It will certainly be interesting come October 6th when the provincial election will be held.

According to the bill, the Minister must regularly consult with stakeholders, other levels of government,members of the private,public and non-profit sectors and individuals,including those living in poverty. The so called “Public” meeting, just as the time before doesn’t allow this. It’s that simple.

With your fall session, please look into your heart, soul, ethics and morals to rectify the situation that has plagued the disabled for much too long. It’s the decent and humane action that is simply a necessity at this time.