Eco "Tax"?

This is clearly a lesson in the quest to ensure that the facts are accurate, because some in the media have put a weary political spin into what was supposed to be a levy that manufacturers pay to make sure that their products are disposed properly.

With Canadian Tire receipt in hand the Toronto Star made light of the issue, correctly saying that it was manufacturing that pays the fees, and that consumers are paying the new fee because these companies aren't absorbing the cost.

CP24, the local almost-news channel, had spun the eco fee out of its original set up, scaring at least one citizen through their live eye into thinking that the province sneaked the extra cost onto him. Not the greatest thing to do in such a fragile economy and state of mind.

Let's make this clear: some companies are passing on the eco fee to consumers, while others might not.

A minister says that not a penny of this fee will land in government coffers at the end of the day. How could this be a tax then?