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Tuesday’s Headlines

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• Ont. minister says multi-system transit card a first for Canada [ cbc ]
• Fare enough: Single card aims to ease ticket trouble [ Toronto Star ]
• GTA transit system is in the cards [ National Post ]
• Presto! It’s in the card [ Toronto Sun ]
• Opponents speak out against Toronto’s proposed taxes [ cbc ]
• Housekeeping move makes for lakefront ‘milestone’ [ Toronto Star ]
• City councillor tilts in vain at graffiti culture [ Toronto Star ]
• Councillors back $60 vehicle fee and doubling land transfer tax [ Toronto Star ]
• Casa Loma control debated [ Toronto Star ]
• Patrolling streets from crumbling quarters [ Globe and Mail ]
• City can’t ‘wiggle’ out of new taxes [ National Post ]
• Home, car taxes get ok [ Toronto Sun ]

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6 comments

  1. At some point Torontonians are going to need to realize that our government works for us … not the other way around … and stand up to Miller’s deaf parade of laying more and more unrepresented taxes on citizens while refusing to cut City Hall spending or put any of the increased burden on business.

    But this won’t stop as long as we sit back and just take it.

  2. This new land transfer tax will make it even harder for regular families to buy homes in Toronto (and increase the price of homes). Yet another reason to move to the 905 suburbs — yet another step in killing Toronto.

  3. You people do realize that the Liberal government is going to change the funding to municipalities once they get back in after the October vote, don’t you? These taxes will not take effect until Jan. 1 , a few months after the election. These taxes are part of a plan to pressure the parties into establishing pre-Harris funding for cities.

    Besides, the 905s pay property taxes thru the nose ($9,000) compared to Toronto ($4000-5000). Its either go after “revenue tools” or increase the property tax. You can choose not to buy a car and some of the other options. The land transfewr stuff is dodgy but not prohibitive like BGM suggests. If you’re buying a house for $400,000 in Toronto, adding $4000 to it won’t be much of a burden. A little perspective, please.

  4. A higher land transfer tax will discourage flipping and speculative buying and selling of homes, which may well make it easier and cheaper for regular families to buy homes in Toronto.

  5. @ lucas … where are you getting those numbers? Property taxes in Oakville and Mississauga are currently around 1.005% which means for a $400,000 home the taxes are around $4000.

    And any homeowner will tell you that $4000 is a substantial additional closing cost when purchasing a $400,000 home. It’s not prohibitive (i never said that it was) but it’s a significant bite and it puts Toronto’s land transfer tax as the second highest in North America.

  6. My parents property tax in north Durham region are almost double mine in downtown Toronto. Yes you could get a house cheaper but taxes will eat your savings in two years.