Eco-Fee = Carbon Tax
Filed under: General, Government, News, Ontario, Politics
In the quiet of the night, the McGuinty Liberal Gov’t passed another dasterdly piece of legislation. No, not the ability for Toronto Police to go after the violent hippy-freaks who trashed the G20. Its the carbon tax, also known as the Eco-Stewardship fee. These fees have been around since 2008 on oil, paint and so on. However on July 1st, HST day, they were applied on 13 new categories of items totaling over 5000 products. Have a look at the products listed, it includes things like dish soap, household cleaner, toilet paper(ya, toilet paper). Now compare that list with the Carbon Tax out in BC… The things listed are the same. While Gordon Campbell had the good sense when implementing the HST out west by not adding it to items hit with their Carbon Tax; not Dalton McGuinty… No… We pay HST on the Eco fee.
Welcome to Ontario, where the saying “I think, therefore I am” has been changed to “I am taxed, therefore I am broke!”
$500,000,000 does not equal $15,000,000,000
Filed under: Government, History, Hockey, Media, Ontario, Politics
It was posted in several places including TSN and in the Toronto Star that Dalton McGuinty supports a third NHL team in Ontario. Great. Thanks McGuinty. As usual you spend lots of time dealing with stuff that DOESN’T MATTER and not deal with what is really important like the economy, jobs or oh… I don’t know. How the Finance Minister budgeted for a $500M deficit and now we’re heading for a $15B deficit.
Perhaps Mr. McGuinty should have paid attention in math class. $500,000,000 does not equal $15,000,000,000
Local TV in the Crapper?
Filed under: General, Government, Media, Ontario, TV
CTV wants to shut down CKNX-TV and CHWI-TV because they are losing too much money. Whatever happened to local TV? It used to be said that a TV or a Radio Station was a licence to print money. It still could be if run right. I put this failure not at local advertisers not buying, but corporate management. Look at the model for small market radio and TV in the US. They roll with the punches and create innovative, cost effective packages that will sell. They know to run their stations like small town stations because they ARE small town stations. When you have a large market station group setting policy to small market stations, you are destined to fail. These stations should be kept and sold to local interests for cheap. CTVGlobemedia would still see the benefit of not having the assets on the books and the communities would still retain their stations.
Is anyone honestly telling me that CHWI in Windsor, right across the river from Detroit, cannot get some advertisers?
Instead I think this is pure posturing by CTV and Global with their secondary market TV group “E” to take their bad decisions, blame the market and go to the CRTC with cap-in-hand looking for massive rule changes. The CRTC should make them sell the companies to groups that will run them and want them.
GFYS GM, Ford and Chrysler
Filed under: Government, Money, News, Ontario, Politics
The big three automakers in Canada are holding their hands out for money from the Canadian Government. In order to “save” 100,000 jobs in Ontario, they want billions in loans. In my opinion, the big three can GFYS!
No WAY should any corporation, large or small, get a bailout with tax money. The automaker’s issues are their own. THEY kept building SUVS when the market didn’t support it. THEY gave credit to people who didn’t earn it. THEY caved into the unions when it came to wages. THEY gave their executives large bonuses while THEIR companies tanked. THEY created THEIR own problems.
THEY should have to fix it.
If I run a business and manage it so poorly that it’s going bankrupt, but I employ two workers, would I get a handout from the government? No. It would be said that I should have run the business better and that I would have to deal with the consequences of my actions. So too should GM, Ford and Chrysler; Really so should they all. The banks that are getting 50 billion in mortgages bought from they by the federal government when they didn’t ask for it. The banks don’t need the buyouts, and they are not passing the savings onto their customers.
All levels of Government, federal and provincial should be looking at ways of getting the private sector to boost job creation, not handing out money to companies that have shown they are irresponsible with money. GM lost 15 Billion in 3 months and they get a handout!
So much for responsibility!
LCBO Sucks
Filed under: General, Government, Money, Ontario, Politics
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario Sucks! I tried to purchase a very specific brand and vintage of brandy for a friend. The LCBO said they don’t carry it anymore and could not order it for me. I found in New York State a liquor store that would get it for me, but only if I order a case. Asked the friend, they said go ahead so I did. On friday I hopped across the border to pick up the case and bring over. Like a good boy, I declared what I had when I was at Canada Customs, then the fun started.
The case cost $268.00US. After GST, PST, Duty and LCBO Markup, I was out an additional $343 on top of the 268 for the case. WTF!
Now I don’t mind (ok I do) the GST, PST and Duty but come on LCBO Markup? The LCBO Markup was 202 of the 343 I paid. For what? THe LCBO did not get the hooch for me. The LCBO did NOT order the product or help in getting. The LCBO did nothing to help other than the person on the phone suggest buying in NY State!
So for the LCBO’s efforts, they earn $202. No wonder the LCBO is raking in record profits!