A made-in-Timmins solution for reducing the financial burden carried by hauling firms has been adopted by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce at its annual general meeting, which ran May 1-3.
The policy crafted by the Timmins Chamber calls for fuel tax rebates for companies hauling material or goods on non-Crown roads.
Under current legislation, equipment or vehicles which do not travel on public roads may receive tax exemptions for their fuel. However, vehicles which travel on a combination of public roads and private roads must still pay taxes for the fuel consumed when travelling on the off-highway access roads.
A "significant" portion of fuel used by trucks hauling ore to refineries and wood to mills is consumed while driving on these private roads built and maintained by industry. The Timmins Chamber estimates this portion to be as high as 50 per cent for forestry haulage.
The new policy advocates for companies to receive rebates in the exact amount for the fuel tax paid on the off-road portion of these "mixed-road" hauls. Similar legislation is already in effect in Alberta.
Through its adoption by the Ontario Chamber, the policy will now be part of the organization's call to the provincial government to enact business-friendly legislative changes.
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