Van Loan says he has held recent town hall meetings

Halton MP Garth Turner is of the opinion that his York - Simcoe counterpart has not been holding meetings for his constituents to comment on the government's plan to tax income trusts.

Not so, says York - Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan.

Van Loan was responding to a press release issued by Turner, which ran in the May 9 edition of the Sentinel.

Turner was announcing his plans to host a town hall meeting of his own tonight (Wednesday) in Queensville, at which he said he anticipates income trusts to be brought up by many.

Turner was quoted as saying Van Loan has refused to hold such a meeting, but Van Loan countered last week that he has held three town hall sessions in recent weeks, at which the income trusts issue has come up.

"I'm fully accessible to my constituents on these matters, contrary to what has been suggested by Mr. Turner," Van Loan stated.

He added constituents have indicated to him that they would prefer to see businesses paying their fair share of taxes, as opposed to seeing the burden shifted to personal income taxes. He added that's what would have to happen if the government didn't stand by its position on income trusts.

"Similarly, we wouldn't have the measures that we have brought in for pension income splitting and to help seniors with the increase in the age exemptions," he commented.