If a cash-strapped province can't afford cancelled gas plants, it's not going to be able to afford "user fees" that are, in truth, nothing but a form of unfair taxation:
Could Premier Wynne enlighten the public as to how they are going to pay these "user fees" in a have-not province with some of the highest energy costs and a decreasing industrial base?
An internal draft document proves the Ontario Liberal government is considering new and increased user fees on everything from Drive Clean to an in-person ServiceOntario visit, Progressive Conservatives say.
Over the long-term, ministries proposed a 911 monthly phone bill surcharge of 75 cents, expanded use of red light cameras, reintroduction of photo radar and "pay for stay" user fees for inmates at correctional facilities, the draft document states.
Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa said Monday that he opposes a return of photo radar, but did not immediately rule out the other user fee hikes.
"I can tell you unequivocally we will not bring in photo radar," he said.
The "2013-14 Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) Proposals" draft was included in thousands of gas-plant records released to committee by the government last week, although it is not obviously linked to the cancelled Mississauga and Oakville plants.
According to the document, ministries were asked to develop new revenue options.
It is clear that the proposals are not to take effect without the government's stamp of approval on a case-by-case basis.
A $22.9 million increase in revenue by 2015-16 could be achieved mainly through a Drive Clean increase.
Another proposal is charging individuals who go in person to use ServiceOntario, the document says.
New fees for family court, justice of the peace services and public parking in government parking lots could bring in another $20.3 million, according to the document.
The draft document mentions new processing fees for the fish and wildlife licence and scheduled increases to Ontario Park fees.
Many ministries are proposing indexing existing user fees to inflation.
Could Premier Wynne enlighten the public as to how they are going to pay these "user fees" in a have-not province with some of the highest energy costs and a decreasing industrial base?
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