New Democrats accused Dalton McGuinty of being a bad Santa for gifting Ontario the Harmonized Sales Tax today but the government countered the NDP would be the Grinch if they blocked the tax cuts packaged with the HST.

“The only gift that (Ontarians) can expect from the McGuinty government is a new tax that’s going to make life more expensive,” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said during Question Period.

“A new tax that’s being rammed through this Legislature before the end of the year, even though the House of Commons won’t be debating it until next year.”

And it’s not a certainty that a minority federal government can even pass legislation enabling the HST, given NDP opposition and only qualified support from the federal Liberals.

“The Premier may have faith in that,” Horwath said. “I wonder if he also has faith in Santa Claus bringing him a good gift this

Christmas.”

That remark sparked a boisterous round of heckling that was only ended by a stern admonition from Speaker Steve Peters.

“There may be children watching, but children would not be acting the way some of you are acting right now,” Peters said

“The Speaker does have a list and he has been checking who is naughty or nice.”

When order was restored Premier Dalton McGuinty tried to settle the matter once and for all.

“First let me say, yes, Andrea, there is a Santa Claus,” McGuinty said. “Just to have it clear on the record; I want to remove any doubt. I had hoped that was an issue that was beyond debate, that there is a global consensus.”

Outside the House, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said he was certain the federal Conservatives will pass the legislation needed to implement the HST, which combines federal and provincial sales tax into one 13% levy.

“I fully expect and hope the parliament of Canada will honour the wishes of the duly elected governments of Ontario and British Columbia,” Duncan said.

Any delay in HST enabling bills in either Ottawa or at Queen’s Park would only hurt taxpayers, who would wind up without $4 billion in federal transitional payments and billions more in personal and corporate income tax cuts scheduled for Jan. 1, he said.

“A vote against that would effectively take $4 billion out of the pockets of Ontarians,” Duncan said of the proposed federal bill.