April 30, 2008
Taxes Due, Ontario Getting Poorer, We're #51!
Today is tax deadline day, and if the Canada Revenue Agency says you owe money, pay now or get nailed with penalties. If the government owes you, wait for it or head down to the LCBO and take it out in wine coolers (provincial portion only).
The debate over legislating TTC workers into essential servitude may happen, but not for a while. Rather than being discussed now, the matter has been referred to executive committee until later this year or until public outrage subsides, whichever comes first.
TD Bank economists say that Ontario will soon be an official have-not province, and could start collecting equalization payments within two years. However, since at last count, Ontario donated $21 billion more to the Feds than we get back, we'd be getting paid from our own money. Hey Alberta—can you spot us a couple of bucks 'til payday?
Police have shut down the largest meth lab ever found in the GTA. Economists say the bust will increase inflationary pressures on the meth market, and possibly price it out of reach for poorer addicts.
In the latest improbable Top Whatever list, Toronto has been rated the 51st best place to live in Canada by Canadian Business magazine. Look for a mass exodus of Torontonians to Yellowknife (#32), Winnipeg (#7) and Ottawa (#1).
A new study says that humans can only remember three things at a time. That's why I have a note taped to the inside of my front door that says, "Shirt, pants, shoes, socks!"
Photo by Paul Keleher.
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It's pretty easy to belittle a ranking that uses "new cars" as a criterion.
There is no freaking way that Ottawa is a better place to live than Toronto, and doubly so for Winnipeg. They're not terrible cities, sure, but give me a break!
A man with terminal cancer was told he had six months to live. His Doctor suggested he move to Ottawa. "Why? Are there better treatment centres there or something?" the man asked. "Nope," said the doctor, "but it will be the longest six months of your life!"
Newer cars would be less polluting than older cars (thus the incentives often provided to get your old car off the road). Its not number of cars, but percentage of new.
The electronic tax filing deadline has been extended (but you still have to pay today if you owe). From the CP, via 680 News:
OTTAWA - Canadians who are scrambling to file their tax returns via the Internet are getting a break.
Revenue Canada says anyone having difficulty sending or correcting their returns using NETFILE will get a one-week extension beyond Wednesday's midnight deadline - until May 6. A notice on the Revenue Canada website says your tax return will be considered as filed on time.
However, it says, if you owe money for the 2007 tax year, the money still must be paid, as usual, by the April 30th deadline.
Late filers who owe taxes to the government face a five per cent penalty - an amount that doubles to 10 per cent for habitual late filers.
It would appear that Toronto's ranking on the list has more to do with Ted Rogers anti-Miller agenda than anything else. All of Ted's media outlets are quick to lay the blame for Toronto's troubles at the feet of Miller personally. The Rogers cable channel in the GTA even went so far as to produce a flattering biography of discredited Councillor Rob Ford when it appeared that Ford for might run for mayor. Ted and his close personal friend (and employee) Paul Godfrey ("How are ya...?!") have long since demonstrated a bad habit of trying to stage manage Toronto politics since they themselves are completely unelectable creeps and card-carrying Conservatives.
"Newer cars would be less polluting than older cars (thus the incentives often provided to get your old car off the road). Its not number of cars, but percentage of new."
But that still doesn't really explain why having a lot of new cars makes a city better. Supposing we suddenly developed a subway system like New York's overnight. New car ownership would likely show a significant drop, so by this ranking the city becomes crappier.