Ontario drops the 'eco-fee' but at what cost?

I just came across this...

Liberal Government’s failed, unaccountable eco tax experiment has been scrapped
Opposition protest cancels eco tax – for now!!
By Online Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Queens Park: Government’s failed, unaccountable eco tax experiment has been scrapped following a growing outcry from those across the province opposed to ever higher fees.

Environment Minister Gerretsen admitted responsibility for the botched Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste diversion program eco taxes on over 9,000 products earlier this morning. Gerretsen announced the taxes would be cancelled and that there will be a 90 day review.

“In two short weeks Minister Gerretsen has moved from ‘hide and sneak’ to ‘duck and run’ – first sticking us with thousands of extra fees under the cover of the HST, then admitting failure in hopes of silencing a taxed-off public,” Barrett retorted following the Minister’s announcement. “We’ve gone from retail chaos to 90 days of uncertainty – a three month delay that will be bad for business, bad for consumers and for the environment.

“He should know we’ll all be waiting when the Minister’s delay ploy concludes and he attempts to reintroduce this wrongheaded approach to diversion funding.”

At a Toronto news conference hosted by Barrett and Opposition Leader Tim Hudak, Mr. Hudak reconfirmed that while government may plan an eco tax redux, a PC Government would eliminate the McGuinty eco-tax once and for all.

“This is what happens when you have a government that is out-of-gas, out-of-touch and asleep at the switch. It is only a matter of time before Dalton McGuinty once again tries to sneak in this eco-tax when he hopes nobody is looking,” said Hudak. “There is only one way to keep the McGuinty Liberal eco-tax off our receipts and off our store shelves and that is to replace this government. As Premier I will scrap this tax once and for all.”

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/25600

 

*note to self* Why the hell did I come into this thread?...lol.
Now I'm going to have to put some major thought into this (...that's just the way I am)...

I'll be back.

 

Okay

 

I'm for getting economic prices of goods more in line with their true cost - even if this is done with a poorly implemented tax-grab.

 

me too...cigarettes should cost over $1000 a pack

 

I'm no closer to working this one out. People seem too polemical about it. The term I think is unsuitable is "Tax grab"...

 

Or each pack could come with a nail.

 

You can give it whatever term you like, the consensus still chooses the term "bullshit".

 

Lol....I just feel you guys are too harsh.

 

Actually, I don't really agree with taxing cigarettes so excessively. Cigarettes are basically the definition of price inelastic (demand doesn't change very much at all regardless of price)... And if a person does smoke, odds are that they are already statistically much poorer than average. Even during the short while I've spent doing teaching practicums, I've seen kids coming to school without lunches because mom's social assistance won't cover cigarettes and food. Jacking up the price of cigarettes only hurts the most vulnerable and doesn't do much to actually discourage smoking.

 

where were you teaching?

 

are you seriously arguing that people would still smoke if they cost $1000 a pack?

I actually expected a "tax junk food " counter argument...that's the usual response from a super taxing cigarettes post

(it would actually benefit the poor because theyd make $hitload$ from smuggling and peddling non-taxed reserve cigs)

 

I was doing a teaching practicum on a reservation in northern BC.

I also didn't take the $1000 a pack literally... but was talking about what Canada has already done. They are already pushing 10 dollars a pack.

 

American parents? wow.

 

If you're talking to me, no. I have one grandfather from Toledo, Ohio.

 

Sorry. I'm saying that I'm shocked American parents chose cigarettes over food.

 

we're Canadians Odon :toetap05:

 

Agh, BC. I get it. Stupid me.

 

Canadians in the Canadian forum. What ever next.

 

"Finding Clarity"...elusive isn't it