McGuinty government to scrap eco-tax
Posted October 12, 2010 5:37 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Ontario’s Minister of the Environment John Wilkinson announced Tuesday that there will be a new program for the recycling of household products, after admitting the eco fee program sparked consumer outrage.
The McGuinty government says it will be scraping the controversial tax and will focus on pre-existing programs such as used tires and waste electronics.
Wilkinson says there is about $8-million in funding that will help municipalities recycle and dispose of items such as needles and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
“Today people can take them back to the municipal hazardous depot, people will still be able to do that and we’re going to work closely with our municipalities with the cost.” said Wilkinson.
The NDP is calling the move just another example of the flip-flopping McGuinty Liberals.
“They thought they could get this thing through the same day as the HST was in our focus back on July 1st and they couldn’t get away with it.” said NDP critic Howard Hampton.
Hampton added that the Liberal back tracking is only happening because this is an election year, “This was Dalton McGuinty creation. Dalton McGuinty made the decision to turn it around. If (the people) elect a McGuinty government again, you have not seen the last of the eco-tax.”
The government has set up a toll-free hotline for consumers who feel they have been misled or charged inappropriate eco fees. The hotline number is 1-800-889-9768.
