Northern Light
Superstar
Walmart Station? Ugh, I'd move.
That just sounds awful.
More over, it sets a few different bad precedents.
One is that public policy and investment should be dictated only by those individuals or businesses who can pay. That would seem to be contrary to the whole point of government planning or regulation (at least in theory) which is to plan for and protect the greater public good.
This also excuses gov't from raising taxes/fares/fees etc. when it ought to. Surely if a core-service or piece of infrastructures justifies public investment then it ought to get public funding, period.
I'd also be concerned, as a already am; with donors getting naming rights when they are NOT the majority contributor even. I mean really if the gov't pays 75% of the cost, then it, rather than a company paying 25% ought to get the naming rights, it is, after all, the lead donor.
Anyone who believes Wal-Mart would shell out even 51% of the cost of a subway station and a pro-rated amount of tunnel and rolling stock are, I think, living a fantasy, as that would cost $150,000,000 or so.
While one station would hardly break Walmart, its difficult to see shareholder return paying off on that.
No, let gov't raise what it needs, not a lot extra, let is spend wisely; but don't make it beg or borrow for projects that can and should be tax-supported.
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It needs to be pointed out that taxes (overall) are at historic 35-year lows.
Sales tax down 2 points (or 30% from peak); income taxes are well below what they were a few years ago, whether that's provincial rates (down 30%) or Federal rates ( peak tax rate used to be 34% federally, its now 29, and the low income rate was 17 for the longest time, now 15)
On income tax alone, the peak rate (combined) has gone from over 47% to only 40%, but that is deceptive, as Capital Gains taxes have been cut by a 1/3, RESPs introduced and a host of other tax deductions added. While corporate taxes (combined) were 44% 10 years ago they will be just 25% in 2 years time.
There is tax-room available along with options like road tolls.
No need for Walmart Station, please and Thank You!
That just sounds awful.
More over, it sets a few different bad precedents.
One is that public policy and investment should be dictated only by those individuals or businesses who can pay. That would seem to be contrary to the whole point of government planning or regulation (at least in theory) which is to plan for and protect the greater public good.
This also excuses gov't from raising taxes/fares/fees etc. when it ought to. Surely if a core-service or piece of infrastructures justifies public investment then it ought to get public funding, period.
I'd also be concerned, as a already am; with donors getting naming rights when they are NOT the majority contributor even. I mean really if the gov't pays 75% of the cost, then it, rather than a company paying 25% ought to get the naming rights, it is, after all, the lead donor.
Anyone who believes Wal-Mart would shell out even 51% of the cost of a subway station and a pro-rated amount of tunnel and rolling stock are, I think, living a fantasy, as that would cost $150,000,000 or so.
While one station would hardly break Walmart, its difficult to see shareholder return paying off on that.
No, let gov't raise what it needs, not a lot extra, let is spend wisely; but don't make it beg or borrow for projects that can and should be tax-supported.
****
It needs to be pointed out that taxes (overall) are at historic 35-year lows.
Sales tax down 2 points (or 30% from peak); income taxes are well below what they were a few years ago, whether that's provincial rates (down 30%) or Federal rates ( peak tax rate used to be 34% federally, its now 29, and the low income rate was 17 for the longest time, now 15)
On income tax alone, the peak rate (combined) has gone from over 47% to only 40%, but that is deceptive, as Capital Gains taxes have been cut by a 1/3, RESPs introduced and a host of other tax deductions added. While corporate taxes (combined) were 44% 10 years ago they will be just 25% in 2 years time.
There is tax-room available along with options like road tolls.
No need for Walmart Station, please and Thank You!