FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, December 13, 2013
SIMCOE – A Government proposal to hike gas taxes up to 10 cents across the land to pay for Toronto transit is dampening Christmas spirit faster than Scrooge stealing presents.
“It’s ridiculous to have all Ontarians pay higher gas taxes to solve a Toronto transit problem,” said Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett. “We in rural Ontario are already being short-changed by not receiving the provincial portion of gas taxes allotted for transit. People in rural Ontario who don’t have alternatives to driving can’t afford higher gas taxes.”
Barrett’s remarks came in response to a Government proposal to raise gas taxes 10 cents to fund a solution to Toronto transit issues. No decision has been made on the proposal yet, but it will likely be re-visited in the Liberal budget expected in the spring.
“Premier Wynne might think she is playing Santa Claus by bringing the people of Toronto the gift of transit, but in rural Ontario she is viewed as Scrooge,” Barrett said. “I’m sure there are many rural residents who would like to put a piece of Nanticoke coal in her stocking.”
Barrett believes there is an alternate solution to raising taxes. The Opposition is proposing the formation of an Ontario Transportation Trust to fund Toronto transit and other infrastructure upgrades in the city. (See attached backgrounder).
“This is an expected solution from the tax-and-spend Liberals,” Barrett said. “The Wynne/Liberal government seems to be able to find ways for the taxpayers to cover the cost of their boondoggles and wasted money, but don’t have any money to pay for needed infrastructure except through new taxes. The money is there, it just needs to be used in the right way. This proposal is a no-Wynne situation for rural Ontario.”
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For more information
contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446