It’s not a fee, it’s a tax
Re: “No to green cart fees,” Editorial, May 31.
A user fee is voluntary. If I want to play golf, I will pay a fee to play golf; if I don’t, then I pay nothing. Same for a visit to a leisure centre or a ticket to take the LRT. All are voluntary and I only pay if I use the services. So, these are fees.
The service of the green, black and blue cart program by the City of Calgary is called a fee so that the city can pretend that its out-of-control tax increases are not as high as they publicly admit, but these so-called fees are mandatory. Mandatory fees are really weasel words for taxes.
And, we will pay for weekly pickup of green boxes. Where is the reduction in fees for the conversion of weekly black bin pickups to biweekly?
John Zeller, Calgary
A made-in-Calgary solution
If the city is really serious about reducing landfill usage, then why don’t they explore plasma technology that turns waste into power with virtually no emissions.
There is a Calgary company (Alter NRG) selling this technology all over the world, but Calgary doesn’t use it. Apparently land is still too cheap in Calgary. Too bad.
Randy Brown, Calgary
Waste bins are adding up
We are two people living in a small house. We put out our blue recycling bin on average once a month, but we are charged for weekly pickup. We put our black garbage bin out on average once a month, but we are charged for weekly pickup.
Now here come the green bins. We have been composting our kitchen waste in our own backyard bins for approximately 10 years and have no need for a green bin. We do not want one and will never use it, but we will be a charged for green bin pickup as well.
I would say we are paying much more than our fair share.
Gord Cook, Calgary
Payday loans shouldn’t concern city
Re: “Task force seeks to rein in loans industry,” May 30.
The city trying to create regulations regarding payday loans is a perfect example of tax dollars being wasted.
Clearly, this not something in the city’s jurisdiction. At best, financial matters should be federal jurisdiction, and at the very least, a provincial issue.
Stephen Decarie, Calgary
Little courtesy shown on pathways
Cycling on city pathways has become more like driving on Deerfoot Trail. While the posted speed limit on the paths is 20 km/h, and a recommended courtesy is to use a bell or such to indicate one is about to pass another cyclist, it is apparent that a number of cyclists do not feel those rules apply to them.
On Sunday, my daughter and I went for a ride along the river. There was a lot of traffic on the pathways – joggers, families pushing strollers and the like — but that didn’t deter the studs in their racing outfits and hot road racers from flying along the paths.
Their selfish and reckless manner makes it unpleasant for the rest of us to get out and enjoy the paths. But maybe that’s their objective: scare all of us off the paths so they can have their own private Le Mans-style race course.
Bob Hogarth, Calgary
