The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition is calling for a ban on subsidies to sports teams. Matthew McGuire, president of the Coalition, says his group has submitted an amendment to the Economic Development Committee’s recommendation.
“When politicians start talking about professional sports teams, taxpayers need to put on their protective cups,” McGuire said.
The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition reacted this morning to news that council’s Economic Development Committee voted 3-1 in favour of working with the NHL to bring a second professional hockey team to the city.
“Not a single dime of taxpayers’ money,” said Coalition President Matthew McGuire. “Taxpayers should not be subsidizing billionaires who employ millionaires.”
The proposal is being pushed by Councillor Josh Colle (Ward 15, Eglinton-Lawrence).
The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition welcomes the news that council has voted in favour of privatizing garbage pickup west of Yonge St.
Earlier today, the Coalition triumphantly capped off their four-month campaign pushing for privatized garbage pickup by submitting a petition signed by two thousand people to the mayor and each councillor.
“The amount of signatures our petition received shows the desire that Torontonians have for conducting city business in a cost-effective manner,” stated President Matthew McGuire. “We need to continue taking expensive past practices to the dump.”
The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition is encouraging the public to sign their petition calling for private garbage collection in Toronto. Having listened to the Mayor’s announcement earlier today describing his plans to take steps toward private collection, the Coalition is calling on the public to make their support known.
“Introducing managed competition will do wonders for reducing the burden on taxpayers,” said Coalition President Matthew McGuire. “We think there are savings to be had, and taxpayers deserve to have the debate and realize the savings.”
The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition is set to mark the third anniversary of the Municipal Land Transfer Tax tomorrow.
“On February 1st, 2008, city council gave us a new tax,” said Matthew McGuire, President of the Toronto Taxpayers Coalition. “To mark this date, we are discussing how the land transfer tax has made real estate less affordable in Toronto.”
The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition is calling on Toronto City council to contract out the collection of household waste as part of the 2011 budget process. The Coalition will be making a presentation at tonight’s budget consultation meeting being held at the North York Civic Centre.
“The 2009 garbage strike was offensive to the nose, and now taxpayers are paying through the nose,” said Matthew McGuire, President of the Toronto Taxpayers Coalition. “The proposed 3% garbage fee increase is too much to stomach.”
The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition will make a public presentation at the North York budget consultation tomorrow evening, one of four such meetings being held this week.
“Over the past ten years, property taxes have gone up by 40%,” said Matthew McGuire, President of the Toronto Taxpayers Coalition. “The city has now proposed the highest spending budget in Toronto’s history. If we want the land transfer tax cancelled and property taxes reduced, we have to make sure council does not continue to increase spending.”
The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition is applauding City Council’s decision to repeal Toronto’s Car Tax effective January 1st, 2011.
“Over the next five years, car owners will save $300 now that this unfair tax has been repealed. But this is a victory for ALL Toronto residents,” said Matthew McGuire, President of the Toronto Taxpayers Coalition. “The repeal of the car tax is a symbol of the dramatic change in the way city council views taxation. It bodes well for future decision” added McGuire.
The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition will be looking at ways to enhance accountability and put pressure on the new administration to hold the line on spending and provide further tax relief.
The Toronto Taxpayers Coalition is today calling on all newly elected City Councillors to support Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s initiative to cancel Toronto’s Personal Vehicle Tax at the next council meeting scheduled for this Thursday.
Coalition President Matthew McGuire says “Toronto residents are fed up with this unfair tax and deserve a break”. He is asking that council make the decision unanimous and recognize that it was a big mistake in the first place.