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To the Desk of Premier Dalton McGuinty

To the Desk of Premier Dalton McGuinty;

You have forwarded my previous message to the staff at the Ministry of the Environment. However, several days later, I have not received a reply.

the main concern of this letter is the newly instituted Eco-Fee.

I understand much is being done to preserve the environment and protect the ecosystem from harmful waste. However, I do not understand the Eco-Fee that has been instituted on the retail level.

I believe it is a tax implemented on a number of products deemed as hazardous to the environment. The tax ranges from pennies per product to $10.00 per product.

However, I am in need of some clarification as to how this is an effective system of dealing with hazardous wastes.

My first question is, how is it the job of the consumer to finance safe disposal of hazardous products? I do believe the empty cans of rust paint and oil jugs will be tossed in the garbage the same as they were before the tax was implemented. In this case, the tax is useless because it is not filtering hazardous products out of landfills.

Where are the Eco-Friendly alternatives? You are leaving the consumer no other choice than to pay a tax that does not change a thing. Perhaps a better way to handle the issue of hazardous wastes is to create an alternative for consumers. It is a well known fact that aerosol cans are dangerous. Instead of taxing what will accumulate into millions of dollars to put a band-aid on the problem, why not solve the problem altogether and invest the tax dollars of Canadians in Eco-Friendly alternatives?

Since you've implemented a new tax that I have no choice but to pay, I would like to know what your plan for my money is. How will the Eco-Fee benefit the enviroment in any way? What are the next steps in your plan to safe the environment from certain disaster?

Premier McGuinty, in my first letter on this topic, I questionned your implementation of this tax based on your election platform. You were first elected to office on the campaign that you "won't lower taxes. But [you] won't raise them, either." You've been elected a second time and this year alone, you raised PST right after GST was lowered and have now aded a new tax at the retail level. Please explain to me why I should re-elect you to office when you have proven twice in this year alone that you are not willing to keep your word. Also, please do explain to me why I should give you another penny of my money when I am yet to see health care improvements, public transit improvements or environmental improvements, all of which were promised in your last campaign.

I trust that this message will be forwarded to the staff at the Ministry of the Environment. However, I eagerly await your response as well.