MPPs tossed from legislature over HST debate

Several Tories were thrown out of the Ontario legislature Thursday for "unparliamentary" language, as the tone of the debate over Ontario's move to harmonize its sales tax with the GST became increasingly nasty.

Sarnia MPP Bob Bailey accused Premier Dalton McGuinty of being afraid to hold public hearings about the looming HST, saying McGuinty doesn't want to hear how taxpayers really feel.

The Progressive Conservatives are threatening to use every delaying tactic they can to force public hearings on the 13 per cent single sales tax, which is to take effect in 2010.

Tory MPPs disrupted second reading on the HST bill several times by banging their desks, repeatedly interrupting the Speaker and shouting down Finance Minister Dwight Duncan.

Conservative MPPs Peter Shurman and Ted Chudleigh were also thrown out of the legislature for unparliamentary language.

McGuinty has said voters can pass judgment on his government's decision to harmonize the sales taxes in the 2011 Ontario election.