New City Hall Board Game

Board game lampoons City Hall

Advance token to GO, collect $2 million in grants

By LINDA LEATHERDALE

When it comes to City Hall and our tax dollars -- it's all about games.

And the name of the game -- thanks to Premier Dalton McGuinty, who lied and taxed us to death, then gave sweeping taxing powers to Mayor David Miller -- is to fleece taxpayers' pockets while frivolously blowing big bucks, with no accountability.

One angry taxpayer is saying "enough."

So, in answer to City Hall's publicity stunt last year of a "Balance the Budget" board game, which was an arrogant slap to taxpayers' faces -- Tony Dickins has come up with his own publicity stunt. A Toronto Monopoly board game.

"All you have to do is pass GO, and collect $2 million in grants," said Dickins, whose web site -- stopthewaste.ca -- lists a shocking recount of how tax dollars are spent, including:

- How the Mayor's office budget jumped 29.6% since 2006.

- How the Clean and Beautiful City Secretariat's budget soared by 226.6% since 2006.

- How the budget for Waterfront Secretariat jumped 30.6% since 2006.

- How councillors spent $70,000 last year on free lunches and dinners.

- How the number of municipal employees earning more than $100,000 has grown.

- How council spent $27,000 on newspapers, $25,000 on taxis, $70,000 on media clippings and $50 million on grants.

- How $500 million is being spent in startup costs for the St. Thomas landfill site.

- How homeless people get three bottles of wine and a pack of smokes every day.

Meanwhile, City Hall's debt climbed to $1.9 billion from 2003 to 2006, the budget jumped 19% to $7.6 billion and spending rose $1.3 billion, the site points out.

And Miller and his councillors gave themselves a 9% pay raise.

Even more absurd is how instead of reining in spending, City Hall voted to investigate Councillors Rob Ford and Doug Holyday for not spending enough money.

"Toronto is on the verge of bankruptcy, yet council investigates those that are frugal with taxpayers' money," said Dickins, who ran as a candidate in Ward 25 (Don Valley West) in last November's municipal election, and lost to incumbent Cliff Jenkins.

He's the first to admit his protest will be criticized as sour grapes. "They want to demean anyone who's in opposition to outrageous taxes," Dickins said.

But he and many others -- including The Beer Store; the Canadian Federation of Independent Business; the Toronto Real Estate Board; the Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association; the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF); and others -- fear that's what's on the way. Outrageous taxes. "The average household cannot afford to carry this extra burden," says Kevin Gaudet, CTF Ontario director.

Gaudet estimates the average family could see its tax bill jump by $1,182 a year, if a host of new taxes are implemented.

But critics argue that estimate is too high -- since some taxes, like road tolls, have already been ruled out.

Still, we could see new taxes on alcoholic drinks, which are estimated to hike the price of overtaxed beer by another $3 a case. To fight this new tax, go to nodrinktax.ca.

We could also see a new municipal land transfer tax of 0.5%. For an average-priced Toronto home at $378,000, that would add another $1,900 onto Queen's Park's $4,200 land-transfer tax.

Other taxes being considered include a new vehicle registration tax, tobacco tax, parking tax and entertainment tax -- not to mention a new garbage tax.

"Our members have made it clear that new taxes will just make Toronto an even more expensive place to live and discourage people from living, visiting or investing here," said Catherine Swift, CEO of the CFIB.

Its protest "Toronto Taxes -- Not a Penny More!" can be found at cfib.ca. You can join in the Sun's protest at torontosun.com/citytax.

Also, tune in to my Money Line TV show on June 20, when we'll hit this message home to City Hall. No More Taxes!