Beaconsfield mayor slams Projet Montréal's `kilometre tax' on cars
A proposal to levy a “kilometre tax” on Montreal drivers won't fly in the West Island, says Beaconsfield Mayor Georges Bourelle.
The resolution was adopted Saturday by Projet Montréal members at the party's annual convention.
Although the policy proposal has yet to come into effect, Bourelle said it's a bad idea and should be scrapped.
“West Islanders need their cars to get around,” said Bourelle, who is opposed to adding any new taxes on motorists.
Beaconsfield's mayor said what's good for downtown Montreal is not necessarily good for the suburbs.
“Projet Montréal, primarily made up of people who live in the core of the city centre, do not understand at all the reality of suburban municipalities on the island,” he said. “Public transit is not adequate for the needs of suburbs, so we need to use our cars.”
Bourelle views the possible introduction of a “kilometre tax” as a tax grab.
“If you keep adding on taxes there's a limit to what people can pay. Quite frankly, they should focus on reducing what I call their bloated administrative expenses instead of looking for those kind of (tax) revenues.”
Bourelle said applying a kilometre tax to motorists from municipalities around Montreal could be tricky.
“Are there going to be gates on the Island of Montreal? If you go beyond those gates are you going to declare your mileage, then declare your mileage when you go out? I don't know, but they haven't thought this through at all.
“There is no doubt they are anti-car,” he added.
Bourelle said he is in favour of promoting public transit, but said the city of Montreal has to recognize the challenges of commuting from the suburbs.
“It's fine to encourage public transit, but when it comes to the distances of the suburbs, we can take the train, and maybe when the REM comes it will be better. But it still takes an hour to go downtown by bus. So it's not practical.
“Within the West Island, if you want to go shopping at Fairview, for example, the public transit system is not adequate. It doesn't take you around within the municipalities to everywhere you need to go. You need a car. You need to drive. It's as simple as that,” he said.
“A car, for us, is an essential part of our lives. It's not a luxury. But if you live in the centre of the city, you don't need a car,” he added.
Beaconsfield is one of the reconstituted suburban cities that make up the Montreal agglomeration council, which is led by Montreal's mayor.