Unconstitutional New Tax In the Name of Green

[Kermit]

A $53.7 million “fee” imposed on electricity users to support green energy programs is not just expensive, it’s illegal, says a study prepared for the C.D. Howe Institute. That’s because the fee is really a tax, says the study. And taxes must be approved by the Legislature. “Almost any economist would say it’s an indirect tax,” says Finn Poschmann of C.D. Howe, who co-authored the study with University of Toronto law professor Benjamin Alarie.

http://envirogy.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/an-unconstitutional-tax-of-just-a-fee-to-clean-up-our-act/

[IllusaBup]

Very sad that you guys cant think of doing anything better than to post such negative messages. If you dont like the site, dont come here. Simple as that.

[Kermit]

Very sad that you guys cant think of doing anything better than to post such negative messages. If you dont like the site, dont come here. Simple as that.

It's not necessarily negative, it is what it is. I'm all for green energy, but the way the Ontario government has handled it is pitiful. Instead of listening to energy experts and getting the most bang for your buck with clean tech, they are using it as a political game, installing whatever sounds the greenest to the taxpayer so they will be re-elected. Now i live in Ontario, and we already had one of the cleanest electrical systems in the world. In fact, over 70% of our electricity in Ontario comes from non-emitting sources, such as hydro and nuclear.

Well guess what, not that we introduced all of these new wind farms, we have gained around 1% more energy being derived from clean sources, and our rates have about tripled.

So I'm not being negative, and a site like this has to keep on top of these things or else the entire movement can lose credibility. Just being idologically green wont help. It has to be a rational greening that allows for an economy to still function.

[SkywlkrSnd]

Kermit, I think IllusaBup was referring to a previous post from early January, which was later removed for its inappropriate content. I don't think the "negative message" comment was directed towards your original post.

[Kermit]

Kermit, I think IllusaBup was referring to a previous post from early January, which was later removed for its inappropriate content. I don't think the "negative message" comment was directed towards your original post.

Ooops, I guess I waited too long to check back on this one.