Ejected MPPs refuse to leave Queen's Park over HST battle

Two more Conservative MPPs were ejected from the provincial legislature Monday as part of the party's continuing bid to draw attention to an unpopular new tax.

But Bill Murdoch - who was tossed for calling the premier a "liar" - and Randy Hillier were refusing to leave the chamber. They stayed in their seats despite being confronted by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Both men were subsequently suspended for the remainder of the session, which is scheduled to Dec. 10, but could go as long as Dec. 22.

Murdoch and Hillier remained in the legislature Monday afternoon. It is unclear what, if anything, Speaker Steve Peters will do to enforce the ejection notice. "Both members have been named and asked to leave the chamber," Peters said. "You are disrespecting all duly elected members of this legislature. You are being disrespectful of people sitting in the gallery."

The two ejections Monday bring the number of Conservatives tossed from the legislature to five.

Conservatives are upset over the absence of public consultations over the new 13 per cent Harmonized Sales Tax, which is scheduled to be implemented July 1.

The HST combines the province's eight per cent retail sales tax with the five per cent federal GST. It will add eight per cent to a range of products previously exempt from the sales tax, such as home heating bills, gas at the pumps and gym memberships.

However, it will also reduce the cost of manufactured products, by allowing businesses to exempt tax paid on items used to make those products.

While the opposition at Queen's Park has labelled the HST a massive tax grab, many business groups applaud the move. Ontario's Liberal government intends to pass the legislation, which is currently being debated, by Dec. 10.

It will be up to the federal Conservatives to pass separate legislation triggering a $4.3-billion transfer to enable the transition to the tax.