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Taxation is the single word that strikes the greatest fear in the minds of politicians and the expert spin doctors they employ. As residents we all feel the sting of taxation on every level and the only salve available is the knowledge that those funds will be put to good use. Lately, however, there has been something wrong with the medication as we see our valuable tax dollars squandered and wasted by government.
Recently, legislation was created that allows for cities to create new, potentially permanent, tax revenue streams from its citizens and businesses. Some of the more off the cuff suggestions that I have come across in the media include road tolls and garbage bag deposits. While I do understand that other jurisdictions may have had limited success with such plans, I would challenge the people of Toronto to be much more creative and forward thinking when it comes to the inevitable application of this new taxation power.
I strongly believe that new taxes should be employed as a last resort to deal with existing financial shortages and more properly be employed to mitigate real and increasing costs faced by the city.
Perhaps instead of taxing the end user for producing waste we should consider taxing the producer of the waste as a more direct and efficient way to cut down on waste management costs. In return for their participation businesses should expect to receive tax benefits in addition to the goodwill value within our communities.
All taxpayers pay for blue box and other recycling programs yet some never derive the benefit of such programs including those who don’t read papers and flyers, and apartment dwellers. It seems that the main component of blue boxes is junk mail and the like that is continually mass produced for profit then left to the taxpayers to cover the end user disposal costs.
On the same theme we could look at hazardous waste disposal which at the present time is inefficient to the point of being shameful. Why can’t we take our non-disposable batteries back to the store from which they were purchased to be disposed of in a proper environmentally friendly manner? And it’s not just batteries but paint, motor oil, computer and electronic components, cell phones, car tires, and the list goes on and on. How much of this material presently gets disposed of outside the existing system?
Just look around your home, neighborhood or workplace and the evidence attesting to the need for a better, simpler and more comprehensive model for the future is everywhere.
"Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting. We allow them to disperse because we've been ignorant of their value."
R. Buckminster Fuller