The legislative calendar has finally wound up at Queen's Park. Government and opposition politicians packed their bags for summer, hoping, in the Liberals' case, to leave a session of discontent behind them. Unfortunately for Dalton McGuinty, however, it looks like a long, hot summer of political unrest lies ahead.

Taxpayers won't be quick to forget - or forgive - the Premier's transgressions of the last nine months. In that short span of time, his Liberal government has spawned more taxpayer anger than any government in recent memory. Its offspring include broken promises, tax hikes, reduced services, and budget deficits, all of which have left taxpayers feeling betrayed, frustrated, and looking for ways to take action.

One of the many ways taxpayers have spoken out is through a massive petition, which made waves on June 24th. On that day the Canadian Taxpayers Federation announced that over 200,000 Ontarians had signed its Pledge Petition, calling on Mr. McGuinty to keep his election promise not to raise taxes and not to run deficits. Accessible on the internet at www.taxpayer.com, the petition continues to garner upwards of 500 names a day. And with 200,549 names collected to date, the petition is a sign that taxpayer outrage is not fading with the warmer weather.

Summer diversions, however, are probably what the Liberals are counting on. Between Bar-B-Qs, holidays, and a minority government in Ottawa, they may think Ontarians will be distracted from provincial politics. They should think again. On July first, the new health tax will begin to be deducted from taxpayers' pay cheques. An average Ontario family of four, with two income earners making just over $60,000 a year, will see fifty dollars less in its pocket every month. Each month that is one fewer pair of shoes for the kids, one fewer bag of groceries in the kitchen, or one less night out for the family at the movies. Over the course of the year the new tax represents $600 less for that family to spend, save or invest - something that will be noticed every time taxpayers bring home their pay.

And that's not the only reminder taxpayers will have of Mr. McGuinty's broken promises. On November the Premier and his Finance Minister, Greg Sorbara, will be in Ontario Superior Court to face a lawsuit over their promise-breaking budget. The CTF is suing the Premier over his signed election promise to not raise taxes and not run deficits, and suing the Finance Minister for breaching the Taxpayer Protection Act, the Ontario law which obliges the government to hold a province-wide referendum before imposing new taxes or tax increases. The court will be asked to declare the new health tax illegal. Should the court rule in the CTF's favour the government would have to either stop collecting it (and refund moneys already collected), or seek public approval for the tax increase through a referendum.

So while government MPPs may enjoy some time away from the office this summer, they shouldn't rest easy. The issue of broken promises and higher taxes will be very much alive when the Ontario legislature resumes in the fall.