TORONTO, Ont. – The Toronto Region Board of Trade is proposing four revenue tools — including a regional sales tax and a regional fuel tax — to pay for plans for expanded transit in the Greater Toronto Area.
The TBOT is recommending a one per cent regional sales tax, a $1 per space per day parking space levy, a 10-cents/litre regional fuel tax and high-occupancy toll lanes, under which single drivers would be charged 30 cents per kilometre.
According to its estimates, the TBOT said a regional sales tax could generate between $1-billion and $1.6-billion annually and a regional fuel tax could rake in between $640-million and $840-million each year.
The recommended parking space levy could generate between $1.2-million and 1.6-billion every year and the high-occupancy toll lanes are estimated to bring in between $25-million and $45-million.
The exact dollar amount or percentage for each proposed tool would be negotiated by the province, the municipalities and other stakeholders, according to the board.
TBOT president Carol Wilding said this is not solely Toronto’s problem.
“To succeed all of us will have to contribute. All levels of government, the public and the private sector,” she said.
She said the GTA’s economy cannot afford to wait.
“I think the figure of losing $6-billion annually — not once — annually in the Toronto region is just a staggering number,” she said.
“If we don’t act, we’re going to fall behind even further.”
“The public is ready for it. We know the cost to our economy. Everybody’s willing to contribute,” Wilding said.
“We’re all going to benefit so people want us to act. Importantly, they want the government to act.”
Metrolinx president Bruce McCuaig welcomes the input but is not ready to commit just yet.
“We also have to hear from municipalities. We have to hear from the public. We also have to hear from stakeholders,” he said.
“We have a process that we’ve been doing over the past few months and we’ll be continuing that engagement over the next few months.”
TTC Chair Karen Stintz is not completely on board with the board’s proposals.
She likes the idea of single drivers paying a fee to use high-occupancy toll lanes but she is a little leery of a fuel tax and parking levy.
“We want to make sure we understand what the full impacts are and how widely that tax will be implemented,” she said.
“With respect to the fuel tax and the parking [levy], I think we need to proceed with those with a bit more caution and get a better sense from the business community about what their thoughts are on those.”
Coun. Doug Ford said the private sector should be tapped first before adding any new taxes.
“The private sector in Toronto is booming compared to other regions throughout the world and in North America,” he said.
“Let’s take advantage of the private sector and see what the market will bear.”
Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday said new taxes in Toronto are not the answer.
Dubbed the “Big Move,” the Metrolinx plan proposes transit expansion across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, which will see $50-billion invested in the area over the next 25 years.
Metrolinx must present its strategy to fund its regional transportation plan to the province by June 1.
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There was Carol Windling on Global Focus Ontario with John Tory and Leslie Roberts.
Hello Mr. Roberts
I didn’t think you and John Tory asked the right questions to Mrs. Carol Wilding. They had there mint gloves on, maybe she choice which questions she was going to answer.
Who did the BOT ask the questions beside the manufactures?Did she asked all the daily drivers or TTC riders?
Does she get car allowence,parking allowence,gas card and 407 transpoder?
They talk about having a goverment look after to make sure the funds go into Infrastructure, will this be another orgne,health scandal?
Will it be arms length of the government? if so who do they answer to?
If they answer to know one then we are going to have high paying people over paid and with all the benefits and $250 thousands salary, and every year the price is going up.
What happens to the money we pay on taxes for gas?
Wasn’t that supposed to go and pay for roads , bridges?
As soon as someone talks about this has to be done, i know we will be paying more.
I wonder how much of those 50 billions will be chewed up by the politicians on such things as assessments, reports, salaries, and bonuses and how much will actually make it into the actual building phase?
The taxes that Toronto payes, where they go?
Doesn’t Toronto contribute to the TTC?
So raise Toronto taxes to the level of the 905′s.
@ Will: I don’t think so. Would highly recommend a tax on “cigarette butt pollution”! Certainly would help to pay for the cleanup of cigarette butts around building entrances and encourage smokers who can’t be bothered putting their cigarette butts into provided containers to think twice before flicking it to the ground!!
Transit riders also subsidize ALL drivers because it is ALSO THEIR TAX DOLLARS that are used to repair and maintain roads, be they municipal or provincial roads. Municipal services, specifically snow plowing, is paid for by ALL Toronto residents through property taxes, even apartment and condo dwellers – it’s part of their rent or condo fees. Snow clearing does not benefit only transit vehicles, it benefits ALL vehicles on the main roads, and snow clearing of tertiary/residential streets ONLY benefits car drivers — I don’t see any of my neighbours driving buses! I don’t relish more taxes but that proposal actually makes sense; it spreads the burden to everyone. Think of the wear and tear you’ll save on your car and the gas money, not to mention the lower insurance rates when you will be able to take fast, reliable transit to work!
So much for going to Europe for our politicians to see how they do it last 25 years . Now it would cost so much ? If we spend 1/10 of money subway would cost us now 20 years ago we would have subway stop on every major intersection .If it is too expensive now to build , lets wait another 10 years it will be much cheaper not ! Start digging and stop going to Europe for ideas U never used other then your own free trips . Public is ready to pay less taxes not more or let metrolinx pay for it ! It will be same fiasco like Sheppard subway . original estimate 200 million , final cost 990 million . If metrolinx says 500 million we are looking at 1.3 billion at least .
While at it cut fares to half to get more people on system not turning them off by raising fare !
Time to cut loose Toronto as a city state just like Washington D.C. Whatever Toronto whats or commands, the rest of the province suffers. (No Wind Turbines, No Gas Plants, Bag Taxes, Eco Fees, Provincial Liberal Government etc…).
Who is this woman? Who said they were willing to pay for this? Specifically? I don’t remember putting up my hand. And, why is it that they want to tax gas, parking, toll roads and anything else related to the auto? We don’t use transit but are expected to subsidise all this. Make it all user pay.
Quote:
“The public is ready for it.”
The bigshot who came up with the idea of slapping more taxes in our face is ready for it because she is rich and comfortable in life. I remember the government encouraging Canadians to save money for retirement. There is no such thing as saving money when you live in Toronto. Toronto is becoming a stupid place to live. So much for being a “world-class city.”
As a 905 resident, I already pay my share of taxes which go towards the city of Toronto.
When I hear the term ‘regional’ tax it makes my blood boil. Why should the 905 residents pay for city of Toronto projects? Check the outrageous property taxes the 905′s pay compared to Toronto.
If Toronto needs money for subways, try increasing property tax to 905 levels and see what happens.
Which taxes are those that you pay in the 905 that go to Toronto? That would sure make me more comfortable letting you 905ers use the roads that my 416 taxes pay for. That’s the only way it goes, 905ers using 416 roads, not the other way around.
There are a lot more roads outside of Toronto than in it. So if you spend your entire life in the GTA and use only products, goods, and food that was grown or produced in the GTA as well, then you may have a point, but the onions you had yesterday probably drove down the 400 from Bradford at some point, and the last I heard Bradford was in the 905.
The real villains (i.e. the politician’s and unions who keep getting raises at the expense of our infrastructure) are laughing at the way they have taxpayers both in the 416 and 905 areas pointing fingers at each other as the problem, instead of demanding some accountability from those we pay to actually manage our finances competently.
Here’s a new spin for city council who can’t spend wisely now. Why don’t you add a 10% debt retirement charge to every TTC fare. The people using the system can pay for the system. I’m sure it will be paid off well before they take it off my hydro bill? Didn’t I hear some politicians say last election that the debt retirement was done in 2011 or 2012, Dalton didn’t lie to me did he?
Who is this idiot make statements like that; “The public is ready for additional taxes” on fuel and sales taxes. Who did she ask for their opinion??
TRBT members earn Union wages – they can afford anything. let THEM pay for it!
How about we offset some of these costs by ticketing the people who don’t drive right for:
-improper lane changes
-failing to yield
-taking right turns when it isn’t their right of way (without stopping at the light)
etc, there’s a huge list of moving violations that help create massive gridlock.
We can then earmark the funds from those particular tickets for transit improvement and such.
Also, encourage carpooling. There are too many single occupancy vehicles on the roads.
“The public is ready for it. We know the cost to our economy. Everybody’s willing to contribute…”
Not sure what public is this bozo referring to. For my part, I am fed up with taxes. Enough is enough already. Want better transit? Increase the fares, that’s it!
I think it’s just offensive to say things like this:
“The public is ready for it. We know the cost to our economy. Everybody’s willing to contribute,”
I have never spoke to her or vote for this matter. How can she say the public is ready and willing to contribute.
I am not!
Make the provincial Liberals pay for the funding out of their own pockets. You know the pockets bulging with all the tax dollars they have already stolen for E-Health and Ornge, and political gas Plant Maneuvers, etc, etc, etc.
Let’s see some accountability regarding the tax dollars they already get, cut politician’s perks, and salaries, no more raises till they get their crap together.
If our politician’s at all levels of government were made accountable then there would be plenty of tax dollars available.
I WILL NOT PAY 10 CENTS MORE PER LITRE TO PAY FOR SUBWAYS I WILL NOT USE!!!!!!!!!!!
ahh, but you will. Gas always goes up. Whether it’s for this, or anything else, I’m sure you said the same thing when gas was a dollar a litre going up to 1.20
I already pay enough taxes while I am driving my car. I pay tax on fuel, property Tax, Sales Tax, Service tax, plate’s tax, renewal tax, emission tax, Employment Tax…… and so on. I hardly use the transit. Cut the government’s benefit for the less talented staff to balance the budget. Ask the rider’s to pay extra and monitor the TTC’s cost while too many empty buses are floating the major routes during the rush hours.
i don’t take the public transit, so why are you putting some new lame-ass tax for fuel???? will i need to pay taxes for the air i breathe too???
“The public is ready for it. We know the cost to our economy. Everybody’s willing to contribute,” Wilding said. “We’re all going to benefit so people want us to act. Importantly, they want the government to act.”
Oh really??!! Judging from the comments here and if you had actually done a public survey, you would find they are not!!!!! Who allows these people to be in charge?
A DEFINITE NO VOTE TO THE RIDICULOUS TAX INCREASES, PARKING LEVY AND TOLLS FROM ME!!!
Want to get some money for these projects, fire Wilding and her board and start over with some fresh minds who are not out to kill the heart of this city, the working people.
Important to note this is a non governmental/non elected group who has no real authority. Also note they have added “Region” to what is basically a city of Toronto group, who are seemingly trying to expand their clout to cover areas they don’t actually represent. Any real politician who would go along with this malarkey would quickly find themselves out of a job!
Dear Board of Trade,
people working are NOT bottomless money pits.
You cannot just ‘decide’ to take, take, take.
How about coming up with a transit plan that can fund itself?
Or its that too difficult a task for you?
Clearly, I am less than impressed with your problem solving abilities.
Sincerely,
Works for a Living
You can do what people do EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. Either live near where you work, telecommute the days you don’t have to be there, or pay tolls to get there. There are plenty of people who live in Jersey and work in Manhatten. It costs them money to take any bridge or tunnel in.
As you don’t want to pay your way, why should any of my taxes go to paying for the streets and highways you use? I live in a detached house in Toronto and sacrifice on space so I can live 2 km from where I work. If i sold my house and moved to Concord, I could buy a mansion. I prefer to not have to spend time in transit, so you get what you pay for.
In today’s economic environment, It’s no longer realistic to “live near where you work”.
In the “good old days” when you got a job for life, you could move close to your office and Bob’s your uncle. But now, with companies treating everyone like “What have you done for me lately?”, what’s the point in moving close to your office if the job might not be there in a month or a year from now?
When I see that a home that sells for $440,000 in the Saturday Star “What they Got” has taxes of $1941 that is a perfect example of how rediculously low property taxes are in Toronto compared to the rest of the GTA.
All I hear is bitching about high taxes in Toronto, but it sure isn’t for property.
No more tax hikes. Existing TTC – always breaking down… and platforms are filthy.
Mice running around at Eglinton and Yonge. Deal with these issues first.
Also, TTC wheel trans needs to be more accepting of disabilities – ie. people with
unseeable disabilities like heart, brain injury and other that need their service.
All the people who want to tax the working car drivers are the ones who get the gas and tolled paid for.
To the Board of trade who pays the taxes for parking ,gas , tolls and maintance on your cars?
All the taxes we pay on gas ( remember Priemer Dad the 8% increase on gas ) where did the money go?
Stop F!@#K the taxes payer, pretty soon there wouldn’t be taxpayers,quit our jobs, sale the cars and stay home and get welfare.
We should be fining smokers who throw their cigarette butts on the street. As i walk through the financial district every morning and night, i see tons of them laying around and catch people tossing them all the time. who pays for the cleanup? Tax them. Fine them.
I think with all the taxes on cigarettes, there’s probably a tax on cigarette butt pollution in there too.
I’m so glad I’ll be moving to US soon, so glad, you have no idea. Canada does not exist as a country , it is just an incubator. A very expensive one.
Be careful what you wish for!
The way the US government has been spending lately (not to mention the largest states), it won’t be long before the USA or the state you’re in, becomes the next Greece or worse, the next Cyprus, and decides that the way to solve its spending problem is just to confiscate some percentage of your wealth and call it a ‘wealth tax’.
Average salaries coupled with lower living costs AND less taxes?
The educated immigrant will not suffer in the USA.
As for the mentioned “wealth tax”, that happens in Canada.. look at the messed up tax brackets.
I’m sure “HEY” wont complain if he’s getting taxed 30% on 200K, rather then him/her being taxed 30% on 50K.
Seems like it’s not the Toronto Board of “Trade” anymore. It’s the Toronto Board of “Tax-the-hell-out-of-the-working-class”. Seriously.
Sorry, won’t wash with me.
I started commuting when the roads where gravel only. Now they are over loaded because of overbuilding. I ‘am not going to pay for others.
I think I’ll close shop and move to Timmins. at elast they know what snow is there.
Since when did a so-called ‘corporate’ organisation like the Board of Trade become such left-wing weenies? An extra tax here, an extra fee there, no big deal, right? Wrong!
Actually, perhaps I judge too harshly. High occupancy toll lanes might not be so bad, because at least it gives people a choice on whether to use the tolled lanes. Hey wait, this gives me an idea!
Why not have double decked highways like in some other countries (Japan, I think?). The upper deck would be tolled, like the 407 perhaps, and the profits could be used to fund public transit.
So let’s recap – A tolled upper deck on the 401, Don Valley Parking Lot, 400 etc. would reduce congestion from the non-tolled portions of these highways, plus it give people a choice to use the faster, tolled upper deck, AND it would fund public transit. There would need to be a law passed to make sure that the tolls are used for highway maintenance and public transit only, of course.
Doesn’t this sounds like a win-win all around?? It reduces congestion for drivers, plus it provides a revenue stream for public transit, and it only increases the financial burden for people who choose to pay it.
What do we think????
When will people realize (including the board of Trade) that the more money that you put into the government’s hands the more ways they will find to waste it. The only way to get a financially responsible government is to starve them of money not to think of new ways to get them more. The first thing they will do with more money is reward the public service with enhanced pay and benefits to secure their votes. Carol Wilding and her colleagues need to get educated. Stop this absolute nonsense of raising sources of revenue for governments.
Go to hell bloody taxes taxes taxes, raising rates…..it’s at the point where sometimes it’s cheaper to just drive than take the damn ttc. Figure out how to make our money work. Toronto’s already insanely expensive as it is. Yes keep raising rates….let’s not fix the problem just screw the tax payers more!
Uh huh. Can we get the salaries for these “public servants” and maybe slash a bit off of them first? Are they billing their gas back to the city?
Rather than high-occupancy toll lanes, doesn’t it make more sense to toll the lanes that carry single drivers per vehicle, and let those who actually bother to carpool through for free? Unless I’m reading this wrong.
Yes you are ready wrong, why should single drive pay more?
I leave in Mississauga and work in Concord, (don’t tell me to move to Vaughan, i like living in Missisaauga) i DON’T have a job from 9 – 5 everyday, i start at 7:30 and finish at 5pm everyday, i have commitment during the week i don’t get home until between 7:30- 9:30.
So what do you want me to do put an add in the newspaper?
One more comment, how do you expect me to get to work by transit?
Live near Sq. One and work at Jane st & Langstaff in Concord.
I could get to work on time if i leave at 6:00am. then do 8 hrs of work or more , then do another 2hrs home.
It is not about new revenue streams it is about efficient use of the revenue that already exists. No more Ornge or power plant fiascos and use that wasted money to fund worthwhile and required projects. I am surprised that the board of Trade does not have the common sense to realize this??
Taxes taxes pretty soon Toronto will be a ghost town