Canadian Personal Finance Blog

This article made me remember this past January where I literally saw RED because of the Ontario Government’s emission testing TAX.

I received my yearly license renewal form and had not noticed that BOTH of my cars were up for emissions test (tax grab). OK, my Honda Accord is an old clunker and maybe we should make sure it isn’t polluting a lot (not like say all the gas lawn mowers that pollute at a higher rate). Fine, I’ll go do that test. I then came back and was able to renew my license, but then I tried to renew the license on my 2 year old van, but the government wanted me to spend another $60 (or whatever it was) to test THAT car as well to get a new license sticker. Unless I have been adjusting the carburetor myself (which would void my warranty), how would a 2 year old van fail an emissions test? Of course it won’t, but, the government got their money, my dealership got some extra money, my mechanic for my Honda got some money and everyone was happy (except me because I was out another $300 for licensing my cars).

I really hate the way the world is “nickel and diming” me to DEATH. Everyone adds a surcharge or a little extra tax for something, schools, government agencies, airports, gas taxes, and I am dieing financially by attrition!

If I totaled up all these little “add on” taxes and charges, I think you’d need to check me into a rubber room, because I’d be figuring out why I never have any extra money, the government has it!

–C8j