Re: 'OT] Are you ready for rain tax?

On Sun, 31 Mar 2024 01:46:53 -0000 (UTC)
"Adam H. Kerman" <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:

Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
 

Yeah, that's right, a tax on home owners that is levied every time in
rains. It's coming to Toronto and, according to the comments under
this video, is already being levied in other Canadian cities, like
Halifax.  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77rYL5OHFdE [6 minutes] 

 

The video starts by pointing out the immense damage done to a solar
farm in Texas by hail. They mention that neighbours of this solar
farm are concerned that the toxic materials in the broken solar
panels, especially cadmium telluride, will leach into the
groundwater and poison everyone accessing that water. 

 
Excuse me. Solar power has benefits only, not risks.
 

Good one! You should have your own comedy show ;-)

At about 4:15, they finally get to Toronto and point out the proposed
rain tax. They also mention the existing tax that is levied on
Torontonians that collect rainwater. (And no, I'm not clear on how
they determine that people are collecting rainwater and what volumes
they are collecting.) Apparently, homeowners are assessed tax for
the amount of non-porous surfaces they have on their property, like
roofs, driveways, and concrete patios, on the theory that rain
landing on these surfaces will end up in the sewers, which somehow
makes it necessary to charge homeowners for what they allow to reach
the sewers. 

 

Can we fire these imbeciles yet?  

 
I understand the concept as a fee, but I sure don't see how there's
any fair way to assess the tax. So why not encourage collecting
rainwater? That keeps it out of sewers.

They seem to be operating on the principle that "anything that
happens, whether we in the government are responsible or not, is
taxable". I can't see any other conceivable rationale.

--
Rhino