NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the McGuinty government is hurting cyclists with an unfair sales tax grab on bicycles and related safety equipment.

“The McGuinty government should do everything it can to encourage alternative green transportation and an active lifestyle. An 8 per cent tax on bicycles and helmets is bad policy and a step in the wrong direction,” said the NDP Leader.

Today at Queen’s Park, cycling advocates from across the province joined Horwath at a press conference demanding the McGuinty government maintain the provincial sales tax exemption for bicycles and related safety equipment.

The press conference took place on Bike Friday, an initiative on the last Friday of every month in cities around the world where cyclists take to the streets en masse to promote and encourage greater bicycle use.

Joe Hill, a 67 year-old competitive cyclist at the Senior Olympic Games bicycled from Guelph to Toronto to attend the press conference. He says the new tax hike will hurt people who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. “This is about quality of life, staying active and helping our environment. We should be encouraging people to get on their bikes, keep our air clean and stay healthy.” asked Hill.

“Today, more children than ever are obese, many illnesses can be directly attributed to air pollution and heart disease is a leading cause of death in adults. The McGuinty Liberals should be encouraging people to get on their bikes, not punishing them,” said Horwath.