Both TTC Chairman Adam Giambrone and Local 113 President Bob Kinnear said that:
"...had the McGuinty government not initially tried to sell the new health levy as a "premium" rather than a tax, the union might not have won its case."
"That really hurt the TTC," Mr. Giambrone said. "If the government had been clear that this was a tax, we would likely not be in the same position."
On the other hand, I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for a city that just keeps re-electing politicians and parties that use the public purse as their own personal lottery.
13 comments:
Just you wait Joanne. This decision will send a ripple through every union in the province and we'll end up paying more all around.
This is going to hit us all and it's not pretty.
Time to wave bye-bye to Dalton.
Let's hope that it is at least considered a taxable benefit, on which TTC employees pay income tax.
Anyone want to take bets on how fast fares go up?
While not a lover of unions, I don't think this is an 'anti' TTC thing, and I don't think we should be pissy to the TTC employees who won this case.
Who we SHOULD be pissy to is McGuinty not only bringing in the tax, but lying about what it is thereby opening the door to this.
Personally, for the first time every, I'm giving the TTC union a 'thumbs up' for taking this to court to draw the attention of the morons in power. Mc Guinty pulled a 'fast one' on all Ontarioians, I'm happy that someone had the wherewithal and legs to challenge the 'premium'.
It's hardly the Union or the employees fault that McGuinty is a sleazy liar.
Unionized employees in Toronto are having their wages stretched too thin like everyone else. It won't be long before they start demanding wage hikes to keep up with skyrocketing prices and then the Bank of Canada will have no choice but to raise interest rates in order to keep inflation in check. Higher interest rates will put a damper on the housing industry and therefore the property taxes that city council and the TTC have come to depend on. There is little wonder that the socialists have gone all green lately, they really must think that money grows on trees.
Well Joanne, It could be worse, you could be a member of the military and get to pay the health care premium and not be entitled to use it. All our health care is funded by the Feds so even if we end up having to utilize a Prov resource for say emergency treatment they bill the military.
Kingston - Very strange. What would be the reason for that?
That could be a good reason to stop taxing the salaries of Military personnel!
Very strange indeed, I have had a running debate about this with the Min of Health and Fin since it was imposed. I would have no problem paying it if they had been honest enough to call it what it is which is a family health care tax, due to the fact that I do have a family that utilizes the prov health care system. Single military people have to pay it also and as I stated they cannot access the health care system without the military being billed. So even though military and I believe members of the RCMP pay prov income tax and the health care premium they are not entitled to receive free province health care. I was told at one point that I shouldn't mind paying it because if I retire in Ont then paying now would be a good thing to which I replied if I retire in NB will you refund my money, No answer.
to which I replied if I retire in NB will you refund my money, No answer.
Ha! Good for you for questioning it though. They're probably hoping you give up.
Totally off topic but for those who are in doubt if Afgan is getting better, check out this link, damn I wish I had known it was there,,would of tried to play it when I was in Kabul in January.
http://www.kabulgolfclub.com/index.asp
lol! Kingston, priceless! I love the description of the "browns" under "The Experience".
Kingston, don't ever be afraid to go off topic here. That's what makes blogging interesting. Where you really in Kabul in January? Are you scheduled to go back?
Toronto Loves Dolton McLiar - city residents are more than willing to pay. Proof of that is that they also elected the socialist Mayor Miller. This ruling means nothing to the people of Toronto, they don't care if they have to pay more tax.
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