Cutting cigarette taxes a bad idea Mr. Barrett

by Christine McHale

Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett is calling on both the provincial and federal governments to reduce taxes on legal cigarettes in order to tackle the ever present problem of contraband cigarettes being sold out of makeshift shacks. According to Mr. Barrett, the main reason why the contraband cigarette trade exists is the high taxes on legal cigarettes. Cut taxes and you dry up the contraband trade. Sounds good? Not really.

First, governments would never be able to sufficiently lower cigarette taxes to make legal cigarettes competitive. I have spoken with RCMP officials in Cornwall, an area that makes the contraband cigarette trade in Caledonia look miniscule, and they say lowering taxes would have little effect. There’s a difference of about $50 to $60 per carton, at least, and no government will give up that much money. Ontario alone took in just over 1.2 billion dollars in revenue from cigarette taxes in fiscal 2007-2008, Canada took in over 2.6 billion for the same period and all provinces and federal revenue for 2007-2008 was just under 7 billion dollars. Taxes would be raised somewhere else to make up for any shortfall, especially in the tough economic times of today when governments are scrambling for money anyways. Lower tax here only mean we would all end up paying higher taxes somewhere else. Just what we need in tough economic times.

Natives try to evict Toby Barrett from his home

August 28, 2008

In a press release issued today regarding the intimidation by Fantino that was reported here earlier this week, Toby Barrett revealed that Natives gave him an eviction notice at his home.

The Natives have been telling us for over 2 years that they have no interest in anything but new development, and now we learn that they’ve tried to evict our MPP from his home! How much more arrogant and obscene can you get?

This of course raises serious questions.

Barrett under siege by Fantino

August 26, 2008 – Updated August 29, 2008 with comments from Toby Barrett.

When Julian Fantino was caught making threats to Haldimand council in 2007, there was hope that his reign as commissioner would be brought to an end. Mayor Trainer went on TV and radio to help expose the story, and even mainstream media started wondering if Julian should be fired.

Unfortunately Councilor Grice who had been specifically targeted by Fantino for daring to speak freely decided to do what he felt was right for his political career instead of what was right for his constituents by refusing to sign a police service complaint, and the story faded away before Fantino could be held accountable.