OTA renews battle against Ontario’s 70% fee increases

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TORONTO, Ont. — A new premier, a new finance minister and a new transport minister means a new opportunity for the trucking industry to battle the 70% increase in commercial vehicle plate fees, announced last year under then-Premier Dalton McGuinty.

The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) says the first round of its awareness campaign was a success, with more than 1,100 e-mail messages fired off to MPPs.

Kathleen Wynne, Ontario’s new premier, who was at that time a leadership hopeful, promised OTA that she would examine the situation if and when she took office. The OTA is encouraged by that response, as she was the only one of the leadership candidates who responded to OTA’s concerns about the fee hikes.

“That is a hopeful sign, but we can’t leave anything to chance,” the association said in a release. “Your voice needs to be heard again.”

The association has now launched Round 2 of its Put the Brakes on the 70% Fee Increase campaign and is calling upon everyone in the trucking industry to do their part by sending an e-mail message to new Transport Minister Glen Murray and Finance Minister Charles Sousa.

It’s easy to do so, thanks to the OTA’s online forms, which can be accessed by visiting www.ontruck.org and clicking the ‘Put the Brakes on 70%’ icon.

“The more people from the industry that participate, the more impact we will have,” the OTA said. “If you participated in Round 1 we need you to get involved again. If you didn’t send an e-mail, we really need you to participate now. It only takes a minute.”

The OTA said it will be meeting with the new ministers and premier in the next few weeks, and pointed out the Ontario budget is just around the corner.

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  • FAT CHANCE!!! As soon as she gets settled it will be the same ol same ol, & quote, “I didn’t really know how bad the money situation is” She’s already talking about TOLL roads & more fees, so I don’t see them {liberals} giving anything back!!!If the Gov. would just put the collected fees to proper use & not just “dump” into Gen Revenue & not fritter it away on other things, it needs to be spent where it was collected!!!!!!