Toronto's new right-wing blob mayor wants to end the 5 cent plastic bag tax

[marmar]

from the Toronto Star:



David Rider
Urban Affairs Bureau Chief


Mayor Rob Ford’s surprise plan to kill the five-cent plastic bag tax has scant support among the rookie politicians who often hold the balance of power on council.

Of six new councillors reached by the Star on Friday, none would vote to scrap the bylaw that makes the nickel fee mandatory. And they all said that, contrary to Ford’s conversations with holiday shoppers who “can’t stand” the fee, Torontonians have generally accepted it for the better.

There is strong support, however, for finding ways to ensure retailers put more of the profits toward environmental and charitable initiatives.

“I think this program has been successful reducing the usage of plastic bags in the city of Toronto,” said Ana Bailão (Ward 18, Davenport), adding she has noticed a drop in bags littering Dufferin Grove Park.

“I will not be looking forward to scrapping the five-cent fee, even though I would be interested in looking into ways to have businesses donate more of this money to environmental initiatives.” ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thestar.com/news/torontocouncil/article/914363--ford-s-plan-to-kill-plastic-fee-far-from-in-the-bag?bn=1

[BrklynLiberal]

1. The disease is spreading up North....I hope the Canadians are better than we are at fighting it.

[notesdev]

2. Oh yeah

God forbid someone repeal an aggressively regressive tax that applies disproportionately to those just trying to eke out basic survival.

[Tesha]

4. After all, bringing your own bags is just soooo difficult! (NT)

[notesdev]

5. It's unhealthy

when you test the bacteria levels in cloth bags after 6 months or so of normal use, they rival that of your toilet.


People will figure it out eventually, sadly for some it will come with a price.

[davidinalameda]

7. maybe people should wash those bags then

or take a few minutes and spray them with lysol or some other germ-killing product

[notesdev]

9. Perhaps they should

Great masses of people won't do it reliably, though.

The best solution is paper bags, as they are recyclable, renewable, biodegradable, and harmless to both user and environment.

And if you're worried about cutting down too many trees, you can make stronger and cheaper paper bags than the ones you are familiar with by using hemp instead of wood.

[grahamhgreen]

10. Just wash it! Like your clothes! It's easy.

[Hello_Kitty]

13. And toilets are cleaner than the average door handle. So what?

Wash your hands regularly, cook meat thoroughly, and wash off vegetables before you eat them. You'll be fine.

[Tesha]

15. And washing machines are unheard of in the wilder areas of Bloor Street, right?

We use a very washable plastic net bag for our meats and wash all
the bags from time to time. Those cereal boxes are just so filthy!

Tesha

[roamer65]

3. Good god. Why did Toronto elect a pukebag like this one?

I bet he's a member of that god awful Reform Party...oh, oops...Conservative Party of Canada.

He and Harpo should get along well.

Good grief, having Don Cherry introduce him at his inaguration...yikes.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

6. The good people of Toronto were "refudiating" David Miller and everything he stood for

The good people of Toronto were simply sick of City Hall pandering to urban douchebags and the hippie squatters on the islands to the exclusion of all others.

[marmar]

8. "urban douchebags"

Who exactly qualifies as an urban douchebag?

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

12. Idle jerkoffs who look down on people from condos bought with their parents money

but fancy themselves progressive because they imagine themselves to be tolerant and enlightened because they occasionally ride a bike.

[grahamhgreen]

11. Who will pay to clean them up, then?

[OnlinePoker]

14. I grew up with his policy advisor who recommended scrapping major portions of Toronto Transit.

Interesting that he was raised in a one parent, welfare family and hasn't a progressive bone in his body.