A press release from the provincial Liberal Party Tuesday taking Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski to task over voting against a home renovation tax credit did not tell the whole story, Yakabuski contends.

The release said “MPP John Yakabuski and the Hudak PCs vote against seniors’ reno tax credit and a stronger economy.” It went on to say that by voting against the credit, the PCs “turned their backs on Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke seniors and job creation in Ontario.”

Yakabuski says the release is a farce.

“First of all, what they don’t tell you is that you would have to spend $10,000 in renovations to get the credit, and those renovations can only be for mobility/disability related improvements, not other necessities such as a new furnace or windows,” Yakabuski stated.

“The overwhelming majority of seniors from my riding want some relief from high home heating costs which is threatening their ability to live in their own home,” he added.

Yakabuski also said the statement in the release that this tax credit will produce 10,500 more jobs is a complete fallacy. “They plucked a number out of the air that sounded good and ran with it, but they have absolutely no substantiation for that figure,” he said. “The fact of the matter is most of the work that would be done will be done by contractors already in business or, in many cases, by friends and family members. This will not create jobs and boost the economy in the least.”

The seniors’ tax credit was passed into law on Tuesday.

Yakabuski also said the tax credit was used by the McGuinty Liberals as a “smoke screen” to deflect the attention of Ontarians away from the plight of Energy Minister Chris Bentley, who faces a legislative investigation over the cancellation of two power plants amid allegations Bentley acted in contempt of parliament, a serious charge that could result in jail time. That has not happened to a minister in the 220-year history of an assembly predating Confederation.

“Make no mistake, they (the Liberals) are sweating over the latest scandal (Bentley) and want to do all they can to distract people from this very serious investigation,” Yakabuski concluded.

peter.lapinskie@sunmedia.ca