Cornwall ON – So it looks like the Harper government has found a way to say the heck with roads and infrastructure; let’s build Hockey rinks!
Media reports are hitting the waves that a proposed change to the Gas Tax allocation to roads and infrastructure be allowed to include entertainment facilities so that individual regions can make decisions to divert funding to projects like the Arena in Quebec.
So the Harper government get’s to claim that it helped get the arena in Quebec built and also help build arenas across Canada without having to add any extra funding to the pie.
Of course what happens when certain regions make these decisions to fund arenas instead of infrastructure?
Cities and towns across the country currently share an annual pot of just over $2 billion from the federal gas taxes collected at the pumps.
While municipalities are free to pick their own projects, the federal government stipulates the gas-tax money can only be used for infrastructure such as roads, sewers and water treatment systems.
If Mr. Harper and his government truly want to cut taxes, why not cut the gas taxes that most Canadians are burdened with and let the marketplace decide if a big arena gets billed rather than putting it on the backs of tax payers?
What do you think Canada? You can post your comments below.
Harper is evil. I never in my life seen such a corrupt Prime Minister! Everything is done in secret including this border security SCAM and that is what I call it. If he had to keep it top secret in the fall and lie nothing was going on and now tell us well it was not a lie after all, then, do not believe another word he says. And, why build arenas, its not like we can afford to use them with all his taxing
Oh now, Diane. Steve is a huge hockey fan, and his time as PM is running short. He’s just working on his “legacy”. Besides, it’s a hell of a lot more fun blowing our limited resources on sports palaces than on affordable housing for the poor. Steve has always been a firm believer in helping those who can help themselves. Give the poor guy a break. He’s doing the best he can for his friends.
LOL Furtz!!! 😀
Sports arena’s should NOT be funded by the federal government. With all the millions of dollars that the teams make, let them fund their own arena!