Monday, July 16, 2007

New taxes in Toronto?

If our tax money is being spent appropriately, and we don't have enough to maintain good services, I don't have an issue with new or additional taxes. Before I hear about them though, I want to hear how the local politicians are spending our money more wisely. I haven't heard that. I have heard a lot about about a TTC right of way on St. Clair and I have heard a lot about whacking down old trees and narrowing Lansdowne, both with large price tags.


I suspect Mr. Miller was re-elected due to lack of viable opponents. I don't recall him telling us during the last campaign that he was going to raise taxes. I was involved with the last election, and I don't think I would have missed such a statement. Suddenly, we're in trouble, we have a huge short-fall, there are no options.... How much did the Mayor's new office cost again?


Forgive my cynicism.

Update
I just watched the news on Global. Hundreds of people went down to City Hall today, filling the Council chambers, including standing room, in what I can only call a tax revolt.

Bill Carroll, in his commentary, suggested that Torontonians will have a long memory about this, and predicted, "Miller is finished in Toronto". They will be debating until late tonight before the vote, but Mr. Carroll believes it will pass because Councillors know there are three long years for people to forget before the next election.

We see very low interest in municipal politics in Toronto, but if you don't find out about the candidates and what they stand for, and if you don't vote, we have to suffer bad Councillors.

wait, wait....Tuffy just called me - she says they've decided to defer the tax hikes until after the Ontario elections in the fall....this by one vote.

2 comments:

Candy Minx said...

People who live in urban centers should not have to pay hardly any taxes. Charge massive taxes to people who live in the suburbs, then double those for people who live in the countryside.

Then everybody will be happy, especially the bison.

Gardenia said...

That was close!

I wish more people would get involved in local politics. Which reminds me, its been six months, I need to get downtown and re-register!