By Arthur Weinreb
Monday, July 16, 2007
A survey conducted last week by The Environics Research Group Lt. shows that 69% of those polled said that they want to have a public debate before the city of Toronto levies any new taxes. The same percentage said that if the province of Ontario refuses to give any more money to Toronto, the city mothers should cut expenditures rather than increase taxes. Cut expenditures? The current city council doesn't even talk about reducing their expenditures; it's hard to believe that that many people can be so nave. About 50% of those who answered the Environics' poll said that the city has no right to impose any new taxes until after the next election which will take place in November, 2010.
The tax proposals that have so many staid Torontonians up in arms are the 1.5% land transfer tax that will be in addition to the land transfer tax that is already being charged by the province and the additional $60 vehicle registration fee that will be charged to Toronto residents.
There is even talk of a "tax revolt" taking place right here in Toronto with people rising up and protesting against their municipal government. It will never happen. Canada's largest city is populated with socialist wimps. The only time Mayor David Miller and his left wing caucus felt the wrath of the public was recently over the proposed removal of "Support our Troops" decals from Toronto's emergency vehicles. But most of the outrage that surrounded that issue came from real Canadians outside of the centre of the universe. We could be facing a real tax revolt except for the fact that David Miller wisely refrained from taxing sandals, bicycle tires and double lattes.
Miller and his socialist supporters on council shouldn't be blamed for imposing these new taxes. Dogs bark, cats scratch furniture and socialists tax the rich (anyone who can afford to buy a home or drive a planet-killing car). It's what they do. To suggest that this particular council who were elected by a healthy margin last November should reduce their spending rather than increase taxes, or revenue tools as they like to call them, is laughable.
Unlike other levels of governments, municipalities and cities do not have any inherent, legal or constitutional right to tax their citizens. Miller and his comrades can only impose taxes when the power to do so is given to them by another level of government.
A little over a year ago, the City of Toronto Act, 2006 was passed by the provincial legislature and came into effect on January 1st of this year. The Liberal government's reason for bringing in this legislation is that Toronto is a powerhouse, the economic engine of Canada and mature enough to handle more of its own finances, yada yada yada. The reality is that the City of Toronto Act is just another one of Dalton McGuinty's lies.
The passage of the legislation had nothing to do with benefiting Torontonians as we are quickly learning or even helping out our municipal government. It was promulgated to help Dalton "you won't pay one penny more in taxes" McGuinty help keep a promise; not an easy thing to do. Rather than upload services that were downloaded during the tenure of the former Conservative government, the government simply gave the city the power to increase taxes. Dalton's idea of not raising taxes is to delegate his taxing powers to another body and have them raise the taxes. This leaves more money in the hands of the provincial government that they can use to change corporate logos while claiming to put all of it in health care and education. The Act leaves Miller taking the heat for these taxes while McGuinty avoids all responsibility. In the end of course, it makes no difference to Torontonians whether the city adds new taxes or the province increases their take.
In the same way that people are held responsible for what their pets do, Dalton McGuinty should be held responsible for the new taxes that Toronto City Council are proposing. These taxes flow directly from provincial legislation. For those who want to make these taxes an election issue, there is no need to wait until 2010. This should be an issue in the October provincial election. John Tory should be grilled about whether a Progressive Conservative government would be prepared to repeal at least the taxation aspect of the City of Toronto Act. Dalton McGuinty should be held responsible for these new taxes. There is no need to wait until the next election.
None of this is likely to happen; especially since Miller has left lattes alone.
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