The mayor of Guelph proposes a new tax that will help address the city’s social problems.
Cam Guthrie brings up the idea of a 1-2% tax to combat mental health, addiction and homelessness in a video posted on YouTube.
He calls it the State Impact Local Tax, or PILL.
“This really shows what it’s costing everyone for the state to do nothing that’s supposed to help us,” Guthrie said.
Guthrie said the tax would generate $4.2 million, or $63 a year for the average home.
“Right now, we have $750,000 in the hospital,” Guthrie said. “Under that is Bill 23, $2 million. Under that is Bill 109, $275,000. It can get you into trouble.”
read more:
Farmers have worse mental health than the general public, University of Guelph study
Read the following:
Canada’s healthcare system ‘in crisis’, warns NS PM amid ER deaths
Guthrie plans to take up the issue at the next board meeting and hopes to work with his board colleagues to get this together.
“I think we need to act to show transparency,” Guthrie said. “I also think we need to take action, especially against homelessness, mental health and addiction. And it costs money.”
During the local elections, the Waterloo Wellington chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Globe Wellington Guelph launched a campaign to make mental health and wellness an election issue.
Christa Sibilin, Executive Director of CMHA Waterloo Wellington, said:
Cyndy Forsyth, executive director of The Grove, added: “We need to seriously consider how this pandemic has affected the health of our communities and how we can actually address it.” rice field.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
