If elected, the Ontario Liberals would introduce a winter tire tax credit of $75 per tire across the province, plus another $25 per tire for the purchase of studded tires in Northern Ontario only.
Ontario Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca made the announcement alongside Sudbury candidate David Farrow outside of Viper Auto Tinting & Auto Glass on Thursday.
“We know that the safety of the travelling public is one of the core responsibilities the government has,” Del Duca said, adding that Ontario’s climate brings its own challenges.
The tax credit, he said, “combines that critical importance of road safety along with making life more affordable for the hard-working families of Sudbury and beyond.”
Farrow said the tax credit announcement was made outside of Viper Auto Tinting & Auto Glass because he has a personal connection to owners Robert and Koreen Huard and knows they could use a publicity boost.
“It’s really important for me, and as I move the campaign forward, that we’re looking after the small businesses in Sudbury and beyond,” Farrow said, adding that in addition to glass, the business specializes in tires.
Koreen said that they appreciate the attention as business owners and that the proposed tax credit should help, because a lot of people don’t get winter tires because they’re considered too expensive.
The tax credit joins an existing provincial requirement that makes insurance companies provide motorists who use winter tires with discounts on their insurance — a plan the Liberals introduced and took effect Jan. 1, 2016.
Farrow received the Ontario Liberals’ nod in April and said his campaign thus far has consisted of voter outreach, rebuilding the riding association and getting his name out there.
Policy-wise, he said he has been focused on keeping seniors in their homes longer and retaining Greater Sudbury’s post-secondary institutions, namely Laurentian University, which has been contending with financial hardships and dwindling enrolment.
Del Duca said that although they don’t have a full slate of candidates lined up in Northern Ontario, including the Nickel Belt electoral district, they’re working on it. On Wednesday, they nominated Tanya Vrebosch as the candidate for Nipissing.
