A month after giving the middle finger in response to a plan to impose a “roof tax” on homeowners, outspoken Toronto city councillor Giorgio Mammoliti has launched a “grassroots” campaign to oppose Mayor John Tory‘s endorsement of tolls on the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway.
“These new taxes and the underhanded way in which they are being implemented is totally unconscionable,” Mammoliti said in a statement released to the media on Thursday.
“Many of these new taxes punish people who work, own homes or drive cars. While residents don’t mind paying their fair share to fund core city services, they are fed up with having to pay for the never ending spending agenda that Mayor Tory has bought into.”
Tory’s new stance on highway tolls has been a total about-face for the Toronto mayor who had previously campaigned against the idea.
In addition to placing tolls on both highways, a city staff report to be presented to the executive committee next week is also proposing several other measures to grapple with the city’s infrastructure deficit estimated to be at least $33 billion.
Some of the ideas mentioned in the report include adding a hotel tax, imposing an alcohol tax at LCBO stores, parking sales tax and a municipal income tax.
Mammoliti said he is launching an online petition, as well as handing out posters, bumper stickers and fridge magnets, to encourage residents to speak out against the possible taxation measures.
