Wednesday’s headlines

6 comments

1. As a home owner I would be willing to pay those extra 3% for the next 5-10 year if the money were to be allocated directly into improving our infrastructure as a whole.

   But this still wouldn’t be enough, I think it is time for municipalities to receive taxes that would expand with the economy. I wouldn’t mind paying part of my income taxes and have a 1% or 2% of sales taxes going into city coffers.

   Why not follow the provincial tax rates by a 10th for the privilege of living and working in the GTA? Something like 0.6% on the first $36,020 of taxable income + 0.91% on the next $36,021 + 1.12% on the amount over $72,041.

   Of course I would need to see a more functional City Hall before I totally agree with any of this. I am not stupid, I know it will never happen because people would simply go berserk over such taxation.

   No politician has the guts to move forward with this and all those lawyers and CEO’s in Bay Street wouldn’t be happy having 1.12% of their million dollar salaries being taxed ($11200 is enough money for them to buy a couple of suits).

2. Carlos>
   Actually local politicians do have the guts to go ahead with higher taxes.They just feel uncomfortable when the public finds out about them and start to take notice.If the public is quiet and doesn’t vote don’t worry you will pay more and more.There is almost no limit to the tax /service charges possible.It is all about creative thinking at city hall how to charge you more and make you “feel good” about it.
   There is no indication that the infrastructure problems will be solved when you are building a new hotel at exhibition place.Or go ahead with pet projects and tree plantings.
   The problem is that the tax burden is carried by the lower and middle income group who are the backbone of the system.

3. “There is almost no limit to the tax /service charges possible.”

   Actually, there is, and it’s called the City of Toronto Act.

   “The problem is that the tax burden is carried by the lower and middle income group who are the backbone of the system.”

   Absolutely. George, I’m wondering, do you spend as much time slagging the Province for their role in the current situation?

4. thanks smitty,
   In fact I do.I find the so called surplus declared by the provincial government was done on the backs of the middle class and poor.They should have uploaded more of their share of services.In fact there should also be much blame put federally not only on Stephen Harper but on Jack Layton for blowing it when he brought down the Liberal minority and brought us a prime minister that has virtually abandoned the municipal governments across Canada.
   So there is plenty of blame to go around.Just check out the tons of reports by the office of the audiror-general for each government.There is plenty of tax dollars to run the systems but when politicians are given a free reign, watch out.Taxation seems an easy way out for each level of government.

5. And where’s this cache of municipal money, George?

6. You can only have 2 of the three: A city that offers good services, a city that runs cheap services or a city that gives fast services. Now choose. If you want it good and fast it won’t be cheap; if you want cheap and fast it won’t be good; if you want it cheap and good it won’t be fast.

   When we get politicians offering all three, then you know they are full of bull. I might be wrong, but I get the impression that George is offering all options…

   I personally want a system that is good, I will let someone else do the bickering over having it cheap or fast.