STAYING IN TOUCH
Axe the eco-fees please
By John O'Toole/The Scugog Standard

The Dalton McGuinty Government recently cancelled the controversial new eco-fees on thousands of products ranging from fire extinguishers to dish detergent. Thanks to each of you who wrote, e-mailed or called. You have helped convince the government to reconsider this new tax. The cancellation may only be for 90 days, while the government completes damage control. In fact, the provincial government will pay up to five million dollars to keep the program going while it tries to fix this tax.

Along with my colleagues in the Official Opposition, I want to see the eco-fees ended once and for all. They are a new tax on Ontarians who are already reeling from the introduction of the HST and cannot afford to pay more. The eco-fees were cancelled because of strong advocacy by businesses, consumers and elected representatives who told this government the fee/tax is seriously flawed. It’s time to make the cancellation permanent.

The McGuinty government’s poorly planned eco-tax has created chaos at cash registers throughout Ontario. Now that the Minister of the Environment has admitted this tax has been a disaster, he must ensure the people who have already paid the tax get a refund.

This government needs to go further and to conduct a thorough investigation of the actions of the provincially appointed Stewardship Ontario. In my view, there are a number of similarities between eHealth and Stewardship Ontario.

Both agencies were entrusted with millions of taxpayer dollars, but offer little to show for the amounts that have been spent.

Uncertainty Harms Solar Power Sector
Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner, Gord Miller, has called on the McGuinty government and the OPA to fully disclose the financial assumptions used to justify the 27 per cent cut in solar power prices under Ontario’s MicroFIT program. The Ontario Power Authority proposed reducing the tariff rate on July 2. Interested parties have until Aug. 3 to comment on the proposal.

However, Commissioner Miller said you can’t have effective consultations unless all the facts are released. He also warned that people will lose confidence in provincial green energy initiatives due to the uncertainty over solar power pricing. The price cut means the top rate of 80.2 cents per kWh would apply only to rooftop solar installations.

The ground-mounted solar facilities would receive 58.8 cents per kWh. Homes, businesses and farms across Ontario had applied in good faith under the MicroFIT program, based on expectations that the rate would be 80.2 cents. Thousands of applicants are affected by the looming cut in solar power prices. I thank the many farms and businesses in my riding who have taken the time to call or to write on this new development. I will ensure the provincial government is kept informed on the impact of this change in policy and change in prices. This is another example of a poorly planned and implemented program by the McGuinty government - just like the eco-tax.