The leader of the province’s NDP is chiming in on a recent VOCM Question of the Day which shows an overwhelming majority of respondents support the removal of the HST from light and power bills.

Newfoundland Power customers were shocked last month when power bills came in considerably higher than expected.

The bills appeared to be so out of whack that the PUB asked the utility to review its billing processes and report back. Newfoundland Power defended the higher than usual bills, saying they were the result of colder temperatures, increased billing days and high winds.

Yesterday’s VOCM Question of the Day asked whether government should consider removing the HST from light and power bills. The tax adds another 15 per cent to each and every power bill. Ninety-six percent of those who responded said yes.

NDP Leader Jim Dinn told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly that government rejected a private member’s motion brought forward by the NDP asking that the provincial portion of the HST from all forms of home heating.

“Unfortunately” says Dinn, “the only people who voted in favour of our motion happened to be Jordon (Brown) and me.” He says at the time, government indicated that it wasn’t possible because the HST is a federal matter and the province is tied to it. “Yet we saw a three-month HST holiday…in the early part of time year, so I believe anything is possible.”