Chamber slams province’s anti-carbon tax campaign
As gas stations throughout Niagara join others across the province posting stickers on gas pumps decrying the federal government’s carbon tax, the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce is decrying the stickers themselves.
Stations had until Friday to post the blue stickers warning motorists “the federal carbon tax will cost you,” and by the end of the day most in the region had done so.
The chamber, however, issued a statement Friday calling on the province to repeal the Federal Carbon Tax Transparency Act legislation, which requires business owners to post the stickers describing it as an additional regulatory burden upon businesses.
“This is doubly jarring from a government that has pledged to reduce red tape for Ontario,” said the statement, issued by chamber president and CEO Mishka Balsom.
“Businesses across Ontario have expressed their belief that the stickers are partisan, noting, for instance, that it only mentions costs and not the substantial rebates to households that the carbon tax offers,” the statement reads.
“They feel that the requirement to post these stickers on their privately owned premises contradicts their rights and freedoms regarding political expression and free speech.”
Meanwhile, the chamber said it supports the federal government’s carbon tax.
It describes it as a “cost-effective way to reduce Canadian emissions and, if wisely applied, can reduce the regulatory burden on Canadian households and businesses.”
The Progressive Conservative government has said it will enforce its anti-carbon tax sticker campaign with fines of up to $500 per day for stations that refuse to comply.
St. Catharines MPP Jennie Stevens said she’d rather see the $30 million the provincial government has budgeted for its anti-carbon tax “propaganda campaign” used for affordable housing.
“The No. 1 thing that’s affecting all of Ontario, and it’s almost a crisis, is homelessness and affordable housing — not putting stickers on gas pumps or a slogan,” said Stevens, a New Democratic Party member.
“It’s really hurtful for small businesses as well.”
Wayne Conn, the owner of local independent gas station S&W Service Centre, said the stickers had been posted on his gas pumps.
Asked about the threat of fines if he didn’t put them up, Conn said: “It is what it is. You’ve got to play the game.”
Paul Newmarch, a spokesperson for Petro-Canada’s parent company Suncor, said the stickers are not consistent with the message the company would prefer to share with customers.
“We believe communications on our fuel pumps should focus on the safety of our customers and the services we provide them, because our relationship with our customers and their safety on our sites are our top priorities,” Newmarch said in an email.
“While this sticker is not consistent with that focus, we respect the fact that it has been passed into legislation and will, therefore, ensure that our stations will comply with the requirement to place these stickers on our pumps.”
In its statement, the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce says it supports the province’s plans to reduce red tape by 25 per cent by 2022.
“A good start would be to repeal this new red tape,” the chamber statement said.