BY Brian Weller | BLOGGER
Oak Ridges-Markham
Recently a set of questions related to Energy and Education were presented to your candidates for their response to and this weeks set of questions relates to Tax relief. Ontarian's are shocked by the unprecedented increase in cost of living, especially taxation to pay for dubious expenditures and the following are comments from those candidates who cared to respond about these issues swirling around this campaign.
The candidates were asked the same questions and this is what your candidates had to say about Tax relief....
question #1- it has been reported that a political leader wants to refund GO Transit fares under certain conditions. Why? Is this affordable? Will this drive up taxes?
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says, “GO Transit already has a 94% on-time performance, but we are committed to always doing better. Ontario is the first place in all of North America to institute money-back guarantees for things such as; online birth, death and marriage certificates. This guarantee has translated into a 99% on-time service record. We are always trying to serve Ontarians better so now we’re applying the same guarantee to our GO train service. We will provide a money back guarantee (full refund on your one-way fare) if your GO Train is 15mins late or more.”
answer.......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “I believe I know what your asking about here. I forget which party it is but one of the parties is proposing to provide re funds for fares when service is delayed...I believe this is due to a lot of the delays we hear about say in the winter when switches freeze....I have only had the opportunity to take the GO train once or twice in the past however I do hear about these delays as I drive in to work some mornings.....In order to keep it’s customers happy a service provider should provide something in order to keep it’s customers. Unfortunately If the government is controlling a service then it is possible for a government to provide such a chit by taking from the general tax pool. Unfortunately then there is less available for some other service that this government is also providing. Now I for one would like to know why the government is running a service like the GO. I think that services like that should be an actual business.....and run like one. A business like the GO is meant to grow with the territories it covers because it provides transportation for people through these territories. It order for a business to grow it must be successful..the measure of a companies success is through its profits which enable it to pay for its own growth. In order to make profits it needs to have customers. The way I see it there should be Go service to a lot more places as people are living everywhere and would just love it if they could have a reliable service that gets them to where they need to go in good time. Yes this coupon will eventually drive up taxes and the service will probably never change because the government is controlling it and unlike other service providers the government can just increase the amount of money it collects for its pool. In the real world it doesn’t work like that...the owners actually sweat figuring out how to make their business better because they have to, if they don’t someone else will put them out of business by providing a better service at a better price.”
Responses from the other candidates to this question will be posted, as received.
question #2- it has been reported that a political leader has promised to keep all-day kindergarten. How would you respond to this? Is this affordable? Will this drive up taxes?
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says, “the Ontario Liberals have a clear plan to have full day kindergarten in all elementary schools by September 2014. Full-day learning kindergarten will have a positive impact on a child’s academic, social and emotional development, while also giving parents more opportunities to work towards a better future for their families. Research has also shown that investing in early learning is one of the best investments a government can make – with returns on public investment of as much as 7:1.”
answer......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “I had half day kindergarten and I can’t recall ever wondering if it would be better if I could be there all day so I could be wrong in my thinking for all day kindergarten. I see all day kindergarten as requiring an extra classroom and an extra teacher, of course this costs more and since its paid for by our taxes then our taxes will go up.....Under a libertarian government there will be a lot less taxes therefore there will be much more money in parent's pockets allowing them to choose what is best for their own child including being able to spend the time at home with their child as there won’t be the requirement to work twice as hard to keep up with a close to 50% taxation.”
Responses from the other candidates to this question will be posted, as received.
question #3- it has been reported that a political leader wants to defer student loans under certain conditions. How would you respond to this? Is this affordable? Will this drive up taxes?
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says, “since 2003, the Ontario Liberals have done a lot to help reduce debt load. We have capped OSAP student debt at $7300/year, meaning that anything borrowed above that will be forgiven and will bring back upfront grants. These are some of the reasons why Ontario’s student loan default rate is its’ lowest in history at 8% compared to its’ highest, under the Tories in 1997 at 23%. For students struggling after they graduate, we brought in the repayment assistance loan plan as well as a 6-month grace period for all students and a 1-year grace period for students who go to work in the non-profit sector.”
answer......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “I’m am unsure about this one so am unaware what these conditions could be. No, it’s not affordable and it will drive up taxes. I do understand the need for student loans. College or university education is necessary in order to compete in today's world. However that loan should be viewed as an investment. One gets an education in a subject because one enjoys that subject and one can see how to use it in order to fill a need that’s out there in the world. While I am all for higher education a loan is still a loan.”
Responses from the other candidates to this question will be posted, as received.
question #4- it has been reported that a cut funding to grandparents forced to raise their grandchildren is in place. How would you respond to this?
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says that, “Ontario Liberals understand and appreciate the commitment that people make when they choose to care for their extended family members. This is why we continue to invest in the Temporary Care Assistance (TCA) program, to help people care for other people's children when the parents are temporarily unable to. There has not been a cut to this program. In fact, the number of families we are helping continues to grow - 37% more children are getting our help through TCA than in power in 2003.”
answer......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “To be honest I would need to understand the use of the word ‘force’ in that sentence.”
Responses from the other candidates to this question will be posted, as received.
question #5- it has been reported that a political leader has promised to cut taxes and balance the books by 2017. How would you respond to this? Is this affordable? Will this drive up taxes?
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says “our deficit is now 43% below its projected peak in fall 2009. So far, we’ve saved money by doing things – like harmonizing our tax system, reforming our generic drug system, and shrinking the size of the public service. There’s more work to do, but rather than making deep, across-the-board cuts, we’ll build on reforms in the 2011 Budget and on the recommendations of the Drummond Commission, continue to reduce the size of the public service, and seek new partnerships with the public, not-for-profit, and private sectors.”
answer......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “2017?....That's six years.......I can see a libertarian government achieving this but only because it believes in less government control of our services....The other parties, well its possible but I’m sure that by then I will be paying more taxes unless they at least consider adopting some libertarian ways for how they decide to run things.”
Responses from the other candidates to this question will be posted, as received.
question #6- there has been a suggestion by a taxpayer to replace the HST with a 'tax' that would encourage the revival of our traditional manufacturing industry that makes things that Ontarians need that has been lost overseas! Do you think the idea has merit? If no, kindly explain why? If yes, kindly explain what you would do to initiate legislation to revive Ontario's manufacturing sector to makes things that Ontarian's need!
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says “our Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth, including the HST, has helped stabilize our economy and our finances. This plan reduces taxes for a typical manufacturer, saving the manufacturing sector over $1.2 billion per year. The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters have called our Tax Plan “a very positive step for Ontario manufacturers.” Since the HST was introduced, Ontario has created over 89,000 new jobs and the Financial Times of London ranked Ontario second only to California in North America as a recipient of foreign investment.”
answer.......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “We lost it to overseas because we can’t afford to make it ourselves at the price other places can...people will always look for a better price. I suppose some kind of tariff could replace the HST but would it be any different really?”
Responses from the other candidates to this question will be posted, as received.
question #7- it has been reported that a political leader would remove 'smart meters' from taxpayers homes. would you support this initiative? If not, why?
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says, “Smart Meters are about modernizing our outdated, inefficient energy infrastructure. For example, Hydro One has meters in their service territory that are 40-60 years old – that is unacceptable in Ontario. To date, over 4.6 million smart meters have been installed across Ontario. These meters have been installed on time and on budget. Smart meters will ultimately result in savings of $1.6 billion to ratepayers as they conserve energy and avoid the cost of both expensive electricity imports and building new peak generation. In addition, with the new Ontario Clean Energy Benefit, Ontario Liberals are taking 10% off hydro bills – saving the average household $150 per year.”
answer......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “That sounds expensive....For myself I don’t really care(yet) but so many people seem to not like them, I actually don’t know of anyone who can show me they save money as claimed. I would like to have one to examine to see whats really inside it though.”
Responses from the other candidates to this question will be posted, as received.
question #8- it has been reported that a political leader would drop the HST from taxpayers home heating, gasoline and hydro bills. would you support this initiative? If not, why?
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says, “both the NDP and the PCs are making promises they cannot afford – while putting at risk the progress Ontario has made over the past eight years. In contrast, Ontario Liberals will continue reduce electricity bills by 10% through the Ontario Clean Energy Benefit. We will reduce the cost of college and university tuition by 30% for middles class families. We will reduce child poverty by increasing the Ontario Child Benefit from $1,100 to $1,310. We will double the Children’s Activity Tax Credit, providing up to $100 per year to help with the cost of soccer, music lessons, art classes, and other activities. We’ll provide seniors with an annual tax credit of up to $1,500 to offset the cost of accessibility renovations to their home as well as property tax deferrals, to help seniors stay in their homes longer.”
answer......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “Absolutely I would support it.....I might be a candidate, but I use electricity and gas just like everyone else so I would appreciate saving a bit of money....I am also aware that to compensate somehow, somewhere the price of something will increase in order to match this.”
Responses from the other candidates to this question will be posted, as received.
question #9- it has been reported that a political leader would end the annoying debt retirement charge on hydro bills. would you support this initiative? If not, why?
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says, “the previous PC government’s failed attempt to privatize Ontario’s electricity system saddled Ontarians with more than $19.4 billion in debt due to the breakup of the old Ontario Hydro. Even though the PC government was collecting a Debt Retirement Charge (DRC), they still managed to balloon this debt load to about $20.6 billion by the time they left office in 2003. Since 2003, through strong management, the stranded debt and the associated interest payments have been steadily reduced. The most recent review by the Auditor General confirms that the remaining debt sits at $13.4 billion -- and the DRC is on track to be eliminated by between 2015 and 2018.”
answer......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “ I remember when that charge first showed up. I couldn’t understand why it was suddenly there and I still don’t....if my memory serves me correctly. I also remember some sort of scandal involving the pay for some of the head operators for whatever the electric company used to be called...I’m just upset I am paying for a debt and I don’t know exactly what its for.”
Responses from the other candidates to this question will be posted, as received.
question #10- it has been reported that a political leader would roll back tolls on hwy #407. would you support this initiative? If not, why?
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says, “the Ontario Liberals have committed that we will keep our section- the 407 East Extension, publicly owned and controlled. This is in stark contrast to the PCs who sold the 407 ETR to private interest groups, which has now resulted in increased fees. Last year, an estimate valued the tolls collected on the 407 ETR at about $9 Billion – 3 times what the Tories sold it for. We will set the toll rates and retain 100% of the revenues generated for reinvestment in Ontario’s roads, transit and other important infrastructure. We have committed to completing the 407 East to Highway 35/115 in 2020 with an interim opening at Taunton Road in 2017.”
answer......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “this is something I’m unaware of either....as far as I know, and I may be wrong but I think the 407 is privately owned.....I do a lot of driving everywhere and the 407 is the only reliable stretch of highway out there...it will get you where you need to go quickly and the times that there is a problem are quite rare, in fact I do remember a problem but I can’t remember when it was that’s how rare problems are..The 407 costs a bit of money but you get what you pay for.”
Responses from the other candidates to this question will be posted, as received.
......question from taxpayer -
Pols missing real issues!
Reading the paper I can’t help thinking how these clowns running for office are missing the mark. The average person needs more money in his or her pocket. The cost of groceries and everyday expenses are rising rapidly, but the amount of money in people’s pockets is not. All these tax breaks Dalton McGuinty and Tim Hudak are talking about do little or nothing to help day to day lives. The cost of car insurance is skyrocketing and no one has said anything about that in their campaign. C’mon, people. Do something that will really help. None of the promises I’ve heard will help the day to day lives of seniors. I really don’t know
who to vote for.
Martin Allison
(Voice of the people Dalton, Tim, Andrea — what say you?)
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says that, “since 2003, we’ve worked to make life more affordable for Ontarians. As part of our Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth, we introduced a Clean Energy Benefit that takes 10 percent off electricity bills, a Sales Tax Credit worth up to $260 per person, an Energy and Property Tax Credit offering seniors up to $1,025 per year, a Sales Tax Transition Benefit of up to $300 for individuals and $1,000 for families, and lower income taxes for 93 per cent of Ontario taxpayers. Overall, after factoring in the impact of the HST, 86 per cent of senior households will have more money in their pockets as a result of our Tax Plan. We have made home ownership for seniors more affordable by introducing a Senior Homeowner’s Property Tax Grant of up to $500 per year and introduced pension income splitting for seniors. Our platform builds on our commitment to make life more affordable for seniors. We’ll provide seniors with an annual tax credit of up to $1,500 to offset the cost of accessibility renovations to their home. We’ll also work with Ontario’s municipalities to give seniors the option to defer property tax increases for as long as they choose to stay in their home and ensure that any increase in property tax would be deferred, interest-free, until the house is sold.”
answer......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “Mr Allison....I understand exactly what you are saying, I feel the same way as you. More than that I also see the direction the current system is moving is not going to make things any better in 20 years when I am a senior if I survive that long...that’s why I’m with the libertarian party now. I wanted to just vote for them but in order to have a candidate to vote for I had to be that candidate. By doing this I don’t know if I will change anything but I will at least at the end know that I did what I could by trying to turn things in a direction that will leave me feeling better when I go knowing that because of what I did there’s a chance that someone like me will not have to struggle with the same issues I have had to. I can’t understand a system that will not allow you to work unless you are willing to give up close to half your earnings to that system....I would like to ask you to visit the libertarian website at Http://www.libertarian.on.ca/ and see what you think of what they have to say. At the least if more people become aware that there are more ways to examine this government problem we have in our lives then maybe whichever party actually does come into power will realize that they have a LOT of unhappy customers (not just the few percent that will always be there)....That said I too would like to know about the auto insurance pricing as well...I don’t understand how that works, in fact we have no vehicle at the home mainly because insurance is just too expensive. Right now I’m lucky because work provides me with a van as I do service work but for everyone else here it’s the bike. As for the seniors I wish that I had something to say that would help as it kills me that seniors have been putting in all their lives and now at the end when they just can’t anymore they are having problems getting through their days. The best I can do is to listen to what they have to say and learn from it so I might not find myself in such a position.”
......question from taxpayer -
Whose job is it to boost voter turnout?
Bob Hepburn provides a list of reasons for dismal voter turnout, including a hatred for all politicians. I wouldn’t go that far, but do sense a great deal of anger that politics has been allowed to morph into nothing more than a con game — promise something and then do otherwise. One party is as bad as the next. Mr. Hepburn might be astonished at the turnout had we a “none of the above” option at the polls. That could force some form of caretaker government, but I would rather foot the bill for a new election every two months or so until they come to the realization that they work for us and not the other way around. If we’re not there now, we are perilously close to the point where the average Ontarian can no longer afford to make ends meet.
Ian Brownlee,
answer......Dr. Helena Jaczek, Liberal says, “in today’s world, everything moves at such a speed that it can be difficult to stay in touch with all that is going on. It is important that elected officials are visible and accessible to their constituents. I have worked hard over the past four years to be available to hear the needs and concerns of my constituents, whether it means meeting in person, a quick phone call or responding to a tweet. That being said, voter turn out is all of our responsibilities. It is up to the voter as well as the candidate to be familiar and engaged with the concerns of your respective riding. We are committed to engaging Ontarians in the decisions the government makes.”
answer......Karl Boelling, Libertarian says, “MR Brownlee, The libertarian party considers itself a ‘none of the above’ party I would suggest you go to www.libertarian.on.ca/ and judge for yourself. Rather than more of the same promises we are all bored of hearing they actually want to make it possible for people to change the way things are done by giving them the means to do so. In fact the reason I am a candidate in this election is mainly for the reason that I could actually vote for something that gives me hope rather than just another vote to see that the worst doesn’t accidentally get into power.”
Responses from the other candidates to this question will be posted, as received.
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