Ontario Anti Smoking Laws 5
The Ontario government is again trying to mislead the public by claiming to deliver a no-tax-hike budget. Smokers will be paying more in the new tax year thanks to a $1.25-a-carton hike that was announced out of the blue on Jan. 31. The government should at least be up front about treating smokers as cash cows. To add insult to injury, this gouging will continue even after the government implements its new smoking ban law. The government’s tax policies (four increases in under 30 months) and those of other governments in Canada also show signs of helping history to repeat itself by generating a massive cigarette smuggling and black market problem. The Canada Revenue Agency stated, “The significant taxation of tobacco products and the potential for profit act as powerful incentives for contraband activityâÂ?¦ (which) results in substantial revenue losses at both the federal and provincial levels, and undermines government health initiatives, which form part of the basis for high excise duties and provincial taxes on tobacco products.”
“I think the arguments are becoming more and more ridiculous as we approach May 31,” Jim Watson said. Jim Watson is also on record as saying he would make cigarettes illegal across Canada if given a chance. He is the Ontario health promotion minister, another Liberal who cares for himself and staying in power more than he does about the good of the province.
Ken Coulter, executive director of the Windsor Essex Non-Profit Support Network, called on the government to set aside $100 million to help charities if they start losing revenue normally generated from casinos and bingo halls. Watson said that kind of money already exists in the province’s budget through a $100-million fund known as Trillium. Okay, so where is it? Why is the government not advertising this fact? Oh, they do. The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, receives annually $100 million of government funding generated through Ontario’s charity casino initiative. (Read Bingo Halls here people)
Without the income from these halls, where is this money supposed to come from? And they won’t tell you off the top that what they do is consider grants for non-profit organizations. And those grants have to be applied for. By a certain date. They will consider applications for such worthy causes as enhanced success for students and learners, healthier and more physically active Ontarians, enhanced employment and economic potential for workers and their families, and more effective volunteers and more people engaged in their communities.
So where is the money for the bingo halls that are losing customers and have paid thousands of dollars to install DSR’s which are now just expensive add-ons? The government has already said it won’t reimburse anyone the cost of installing DSR’s.
The government seems bent on ignoring its own studies that show business will be hard hit and jobs will be lost. It is, instead, focused on producing TV ads that show us what a great boon this law will be
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The money amounts are staggering and will be discussed next time. The government says not to worry, everything will be fine and they probably won’t have to raise taxes to make up the deficit.
Yeah, we heard that just before the Health Tax kicked in.
