Gilman Says Congestion Tax Sends Negative Message

Might as well hang a "closed" sign on the uptown area if the city implements the congestion tax proposed at last night's council meeting. That according to Board of Trade President Imelda Gilman, who says that charging suburban commuters to come into the uptown core would encourage people to stay away.

She says it's a gives the message that we don't want to attract business here.
 
Councillor Donnie Snook, who presented the idea, says it's a way to generate new sources of revenue from people who work in the city, but don't pay taxes here. Gilman says that raising parking costs is a far more realistic option, and that a tax like that would basically be an unprecedented move in Canada.