Mayor Miller has just launched the "One Cent Now" campaign - trying to get 1 cent of the 6% Goods & Services Tax returned to Canadian municipalities to recoup at least some of the economic benefits that cities produce for the benefit of rural Canada.



It's something Miller mentioned when he won the election in November - that to support effective and efficient public transit (among other things), some of the economic activity that Toronto produces (something like 20% of the GDP of Canada) should be returned to Toronto.

"It's a call to the federal government to help build the kind of Toronto, the kind of cities and the kind of Canada that all of our citizens deserve," Miller said about his GST push. "A Canada that is forward looking. A Canada that is sustainable, economically and environmentally. A Canada that understands our people live in cities and that we must, in turn, give back to those communities at least a portion of what they pay in taxes."

Check out the website, and sign the petition. There's a pretty good FAQ over there too.

Most likely, none of this money will go to cycling programs or infrastructure in Toronto. It will probably all go towards public transit. If it gets cars off the road, then I'm all for it.

There SHOULD be atleast some going to cycling. Cycling is, other than walking, the cheapest form of transportation for a government to promote.

Cars make for high-maintenance roads - subways and streetcars are expensive too. A person with a bike (which they buy themselves) can go just about anywhere with minimal impact on roads and the environment.

Labels: politics

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