Ontario PC's are Getting It Done?
A look at what's in legislation proposed by Ontario's Ford Government
Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives (PC)’s have a new pet piece of legislation. It’s an Omnibus Bill entitled the Get It Done Act, tackling a variety of things, many of us didn’t know we needed. Let’s get into some of the proposed changes.
A Carbon Tax referendum?? Billed as a measure to keep costs down. The federal carbon tax has been under fire as the federal government has been forced into carve outs on home heating for Atlantic Canada. Other Premiers are pressuring for similar measures, and farmers are also fighting for their own exemptions. The legislation would force any new carbon tax to put to a referendum. “It’s never been more important to keep costs down for people and businesses,” Doug Ford said. Few specifics were released such as an estimated cost of the referendum. Ontario has had a referendum in 2007 on electoral reform.
The political reality of this, is that it will future governments from passing a carbon tax unless they’re running on it.
Road Toll Ban/ Driver’s License Fee changes: Another proposal is to ban road tolls on provincial highways including the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway, and 400 series highways. The ban on tolls is largely symbolic. 400 series highways are public highways, with the exception of the 407, which is privately owned; this legislation won’t apply to it.
Driver’s License Fee Changes- The fees were frozen in 2019, and will become permanent if the legislation is passed. The government estimates drivers will save $66 million over five years. The one question I have is this a legitimate source of revenue, what’s going to replace it?
Land Changes?? This was uncovered by Emma McIntosh and Fatima Syed at the Narwhal. The proposed changes would potentially make it easier to expropriate land in order to fast-track infrastructure projects including the 413, and the Bradford bypass as well as transit lines. Linking the excellent article here.
These are just potential changes. The first line of the article describes the Ontario government as “mulling over”, indicating the possibility it’s only a trial balloon. Meaning the changes may not happen. But, I consume a lot of news, and I haven’t heard, seen, or read anything of this since that first story was published February 2. And no government spokesperson has been quoted anywhere loudly denying it. So I would classify it as something to be aware of at the minimum, because if it’s passed, then it could fundamentally change the province.
The legislation is going to be a key part of the spring session, and is expected to come out sometime this week.