http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/363 Toronto Mayor David Miller and the socialist hordes Booze taxes for Toronto--bring them on! By Arthur Weinreb Thursday, October 25, 2007
Much like the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Mayor David Miller and the socialist hordes at city hall didn’t have any time to bask in their victory. While the Red Sox look towards tonight’s game after beating the Colorado Rockies 13-1in the opening game of the 2007 World Series, the city mothers are looking towards what new taxes can be imposed after passing the municipal land transfer tax and vehicle registration fee three days ago
The attention now seems to be on an alcohol tax that will see liquor purchased within the city of Toronto, subject to a 5 per cent tax. As the “revenue tools” that have now been passed barely put a dent in the city’s financial shortfall, more taxes are needed. Despite the protestations about the difficulties of taxing booze within the city limits, it’s bound to come. And that would not be such a bad thing.
Let’s face it; the land transfer tax is nothing more than a tax on the rich. The anticipated booze tax will be nothing less than a tax on the poor and would bring some “fairness” to the tax system. And the good socialists at City Hall are nothing if not “fair”. The poor, of course cannot afford to travel outside of Toronto to make their liquor purchases. To those that can leave the confines of Canada’s largest city with ease, a 5 per cent or 50 per cent for that matter added tax on alcohol will be nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
There are thousands of people who live outside of Toronto but work within its confines. So, instead of picking up a bottle after work they will merely wait and buy one when they arrive home in the 905. Similarly there are thousands of Torontonians who have followed their jobs that have fled to the outlying municipalities in recent years. These people will simply make their liquor purchases outside of the city after or during working hours. For them, it will be no big deal.
Then there are those who do not have a reason to leave the confines of the city on a daily basis, but who can afford to travel to the ‘burbs and buy alcohol in bulk. Even though the cost of gas will likely exceed the savings, it will be worth it to beat the city at its revenue tools game (and it is a game). For a car-hating council that prides itself on its environmental practices, the thoughts of Torontonians driving to Peel, York Region or Durham to go to a liquor store is actually quite humorous. But in the general scheme of things, gridlock and protecting the environment do not rank as high as being able to increase revenues through increased taxation rather than take a serious look at spending in order to balance the budget.
The real effect of a municipal tax on liquor would of course be on the poor--those who have no means and/or cannot afford to leave the city to purchase alcohol. You would think that the city mothers who always at least pretend to care about the poor, the downtrodden, and the homeless would see how their little revenue tools could adversely affect these people. The reality is that they don’t care. The socialists thrive on having people dependent upon the state and if the tax on alcohol makes a few more Torontonians more dependent upon the municipal government, they will have achieved their objective. Taking the extra money that a bottle will cost out of their children’s milk money is not something that would particularly matter to this council.
The only result of the booze tax would be that the city would become home to more derelict buildings that used to house liquor stores. The jobs that are lost; like others before them, will merely leave the city for the 905 area. Maybe this will be a good thing. Perhaps, just perhaps, if the city deteriorates enough, residents might just be motivated enough to vote Miller and his fellow travelers out of office in the next election. But if the provincial election results are any indication, the current crops of councillors don’t have too much to worry about.
Topic: Toronto Mayor David Miller and the socialist hordes taxing alcohol. (Read 1658 times)