January can be a difficult month for many families, particularly when the economy remains uncertain. Our government recognizes this, and has put in place measures to ease the burden and ensure that families have the resources they need to prosper.

As of January 1, 2010 we have permanently cut the tax rate for the first income bracket, making it the lowest provincial tax rate in Canada. This will result in savings for 93% of Ontario tax payers, and will mean that 90,000 Ontarians will no longer be paying tax at all.

We have also introduced a new, permanent Ontario Sales Tax Credit that will provide timely annual tax relief of up to $260 for each adult and child in over 2.9 million low- and middle-income families. The sales tax credit will work like the Goods and Services Tax Credit - if you currently receive a quarterly GST credit you will also now receive an Ontario Tax Credit beginning in July.

Also new this year, you will be receiving transitional payments to support the shift to the new, harmonized sales tax system beginning in June. Eligible families with an income of less than $160,000 will receive three payments totalling $1,000, and eligible individuals who earn less than $80,000 will get three payments totalling $300. These payments will be received in June 2010, December 2010 and June 2011.

To qualify for these two benefits a 2009 tax return must be filed, so remember to file your taxes this April!

To further help families, as of July 2009 we nearly doubled the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) from $600 to up to $1,100 per child annually. This means almost 115,000 more families were able to enrol their children in sports or music programs, or buy their children back to school clothes because they are now receiving the OCB.

When we put all of these tax cuts and credits together, they provide significant savings for most Ontarians. These measures mean that a senior living on a pension income of $20,000 will save $170; a single parent earning $35,000 would save $275; and a dual income family with two children will save $605. These are real savings that you can use to buy a home, save for the future or invest in an education.

These income tax measures are one part of our three-pronged plan to boost the economy. We are also delivering $4.5 billion in business tax relief over three years - important tax measures that will attract new investment and create jobs - and, are improving our competitiveness by harmonizing the PST and GST.

Comprehensive tax reform is the single most important thing the government can do to create jobs and position the economy for future growth. These tax initiatives will ensure that more Ontarians have well-paying jobs, and that we continue to provide the high-quality health, education and social services that our families rely on.

Sadly, most attention has been focused solely on one aspect of our comprehensive tax package - the HST - and has ignored all of the important tax measures aimed at decreasing the tax burden for low and middle-income Ontarians.

The anxiety over the HST has been wrongly placed. A recent report released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives found that the HST will be revenue neutral for the vast majority of Ontarians and those with lower incomes will actually be better off.

That is because the impact of the HST will be offset by supportive tax measures, such as the property and sales tax credits and a cut in income taxes, mentioned above. This is in addition to the reduction in the cost of consumer goods that will result from having a more efficient tax system.

We want to ensure that all Ontarians have the opportunity to succeed. To do this, we must encourage investment that creates jobs for Ontarians. This economic activity ensures that we have the resources to provide the high-quality health, education and social services that Ontarians deserve. By working together we can ensure that all of us succeed.