Fedeli reiterates message North won't pay for southern transit expansion

Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli
News Release

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Nipissing MPP and PC Finance Critic Vic Fedeli again delivered a clear message on behalf of his constituents today that they are strongly opposed to paying any new taxes or fees proposed by the Wynne Liberal government to support Toronto and Hamilton transit.



After Fedeli presented a petition signed by some 600 constituents to that effect in the Ontario Legislature Monday, he reiterated the message in a Members’ Statement this afternoon. The prepared text of the statement is as follows:





Speaker, this past spring, Metrolinx provided several options to pay for improvements to gridlock and transit in the Toronto and Hamilton areas. This included a one-per cent hike in the HST and a five-cent a litre gasoline tax. This did not go unnoticed in my riding of Nipissing, nor across Northern Ontario.



Also, found in the Gas Plant Scandal documents were files outlining nearly 50 other new provincial tax and fee increases be considered, including a monthly phone bill surcharge, increased drivers licence fees which we saw implemented last week, and new fees for fishers, hunters and park users.



Taxpayers in Northern Ontario are already overburdened with demands by the provincial government on their pocketbooks, and residents in Northern Ontario experience higher costs for many items including heating and transportation.



I surveyed my constituents over the summer on this issue, and they have spoken loud and clear. I presented a petition Monday and have over 600 coupons here.



The message from Nipissing is clear: They are NOT willing to pay for the expansion of Toronto and Hamilton transit through taxes, fees, surcharges or other mechanisms that burden the taxpayers of Northern Ontario.

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