Comments on: Smackdown: Should there be a new tax to pay for roads and transit? http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-should-there-be-a-new-tax-to-pay-for-roads-and-transit/ Fri, 17 May 2013 16:02:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-should-there-be-a-new-tax-to-pay-for-roads-and-transit/#comment-1041350 John Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:26:44 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=35665#comment-1041350 No more taxes, we're taxed out. No more taxes, we’re taxed out.

]]> By: Nick J Boragina http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-should-there-be-a-new-tax-to-pay-for-roads-and-transit/#comment-1034757 Nick J Boragina Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:01:01 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=35665#comment-1034757 You live too far from where you work. Every drive is harmful not only to your own psychology but to the environment, as well as clogging the roads needlessly. You need to live closer to where you work, that may mean moving or changing jobs. This applies not just to you but to everyone. THAT is the only way to solve traffic. You live too far from where you work. Every drive is harmful not only to your own psychology but to the environment, as well as clogging the roads needlessly. You need to live closer to where you work, that may mean moving or changing jobs. This applies not just to you but to everyone. THAT is the only way to solve traffic.

]]> By: Willy http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-should-there-be-a-new-tax-to-pay-for-roads-and-transit/#comment-1034678 Willy Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:23:39 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=35665#comment-1034678 I think the bigger issue is that the provincial government tacks on taxes to various items (like the gas tax or hydro debt retirement charge), but all the money just goes into general revenues. The money should set aside only to be used to the purpose intended by the tax. It's not a difficult concept, but it would impede the reckless spending of certain politicians. I think the bigger issue is that the provincial government tacks on taxes to various items (like the gas tax or hydro debt retirement charge), but all the money just goes into general revenues. The money should set aside only to be used to the purpose intended by the tax. It’s not a difficult concept, but it would impede the reckless spending of certain politicians.

]]> By: Willy http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-should-there-be-a-new-tax-to-pay-for-roads-and-transit/#comment-1034663 Willy Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:16:17 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=35665#comment-1034663 First off, if you remove the tolls from the 407, it will be jammed up just like 401 is now. The reason it is such a nice, well maintained highway is because of the tolls. Secondly, if you can't afford to drive from Guelph to Scartown everyday, try moving closer to your job. It's a personal decision to drive that distance, it's not the government's fault. First off, if you remove the tolls from the 407, it will be jammed up just like 401 is now. The reason it is such a nice, well maintained highway is because of the tolls.

Secondly, if you can’t afford to drive from Guelph to Scartown everyday, try moving closer to your job. It’s a personal decision to drive that distance, it’s not the government’s fault.

]]> By: panacea http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-should-there-be-a-new-tax-to-pay-for-roads-and-transit/#comment-1030037 panacea Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:15:39 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=35665#comment-1030037 This idea is totally crap. I drive from Guelph area to Scarborough for work Mon-Friday. It's a sucky drive, but it's my job and that's where it is. I pay enough gas and car repair money as is. And, sometimes, I even take the 407. My husband is in construction and also takes major routes. Sure, there's a GO train, but I'd have to drive to Milton, take the train, take 2 subways, and a bus to get to work. That's MORE money than driving - I've priced it out and even attempted it one horrible day. What the government SHOULD do is buy back the 407 and make it free. I would take the 407 from Milton to the 404 everyday instead of the 401. That would reduce conjestion immensely. Tolls aren't going to reduce cars on the road - it's just another way for the government to steal more money from us. This idea is totally crap. I drive from Guelph area to Scarborough for work Mon-Friday. It’s a sucky drive, but it’s my job and that’s where it is. I pay enough gas and car repair money as is. And, sometimes, I even take the 407. My husband is in construction and also takes major routes. Sure, there’s a GO train, but I’d have to drive to Milton, take the train, take 2 subways, and a bus to get to work. That’s MORE money than driving – I’ve priced it out and even attempted it one horrible day.

What the government SHOULD do is buy back the 407 and make it free. I would take the 407 from Milton to the 404 everyday instead of the 401. That would reduce conjestion immensely.

Tolls aren’t going to reduce cars on the road – it’s just another way for the government to steal more money from us.

]]> By: Art Vandelai http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-should-there-be-a-new-tax-to-pay-for-roads-and-transit/#comment-1029921 Art Vandelai Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:41:05 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=35665#comment-1029921 The 14.7 cents a litre is understated - actually it's about 37 cents. Still in total this works out to $15 billion in road taxes, while governemnts in Canada spend $29 billion on roads. This is not sustainable. Road users are the primary beneficiaries from a more efficient transit system - if more people take transit there are fewer cars creating traffic problems. Taking transit benefits others. Taking the car benefits me, but causes pain for others. Which is why there needs to be greater incentive not to take the car. The 14.7 cents a litre is understated – actually it’s about 37 cents. Still in total this works out to $15 billion in road taxes, while governemnts in Canada spend $29 billion on roads. This is not sustainable. Road users are the primary beneficiaries from a more efficient transit system – if more people take transit there are fewer cars creating traffic problems. Taking transit benefits others. Taking the car benefits me, but causes pain for others. Which is why there needs to be greater incentive not to take the car.

]]> By: Nick http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-should-there-be-a-new-tax-to-pay-for-roads-and-transit/#comment-1029895 Nick Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:29:41 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=35665#comment-1029895 @Isotope9, even conservative think tanks such as the CD Howe Institute have calculated that drivers only pay between a third to a half of the cost associated with maintaining and building roads, with the rest (usually an insufficient amount) coming from general tax revenue. Further I disagree with your mentality of let transit users pay for their own transit, as every transit user is one less driver on the road, benefitting everyone. Look beyond your steering wheel. @Isotope9, even conservative think tanks such as the CD Howe Institute have calculated that drivers only pay between a third to a half of the cost associated with maintaining and building roads, with the rest (usually an insufficient amount) coming from general tax revenue. Further I disagree with your mentality of let transit users pay for their own transit, as every transit user is one less driver on the road, benefitting everyone. Look beyond your steering wheel.

]]> By: Isotope9 http://www.wheels.ca/feature/smackdown-should-there-be-a-new-tax-to-pay-for-roads-and-transit/#comment-1029130 Isotope9 Thu, 07 Feb 2013 13:56:54 +0000 http://ec2-107-20-15-173.compute-1.amazonaws.com/?post_type=feature&p=35665#comment-1029130 We already pay taxes towards infrastructure as part of the 14.7 cent/l gasoline tax you dummies. And what's with the "let tax people who drive to pay for transit" nonsense? Why not make transit riders pay per km (as has been recently proposed). The gov't doesn't charge transit users taxes to improve roads do they? We already pay taxes towards infrastructure as part of the 14.7 cent/l gasoline tax you dummies.

And what’s with the “let tax people who drive to pay for transit” nonsense? Why not make transit riders pay per km (as has been recently proposed). The gov’t doesn’t charge transit users taxes to improve roads do they?

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