Road Tolls, Hotel Tax - Another Step Closer

Mayor John Tory’s executive committee has unanimously approved asking the province for the power to introduce road tolls and a tax on hotels and short-term accommodations.

The proposed revenue tools and taxes are needed to help fill a $33-billion gap in unfunded projects.

Tory challenged his detractors on Thursday to step up with alternatives.

“If they are opposed, I think they have an obligation to expose what they would do instead,” Tory said during a break from the meeting.

Outspoken Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti thinks road tolls would only cause more congestion on Toronto’s side streets.

“What (Tory’s) going to do is create a network of traffic through the city because all of those people who work outside of the city of Toronto are going to take our side streets to get to work now.”

Mammoliti brought a pair of boxing gloves to Thursday’s meeting to symbolize his fight against the proposed taxes and revenue tools that he feels take advantage of taxpayers.

Other options that were debated and shutdown included a $120 vehicle registration tax, an alcohol tax and an increase to the land transfer tax.

(Story courtesy of 680News.com, Tory photo via @Momin680NEWS, DVP photo via Wikimedia)