Should new travel rules (aka, tax) be challenged?

[myata]

Seriously: why $2,000 for three days in a hotel, when the cost of 2-star accommodation is about ten times (10) less?

Should the declared policies be: 1) reasonable 2) justifiable and defendable, and 3) effective, or can be taken out of a finger in the air?

Why $120 for the annual "license plate renewal" when it should cost $10 - 20?

Why over $100 for a passport, more that a fat textbook with high-quality paper, for something that is a citizen's right?

We have this thing called 1) "public" and 2) "service", but do we still have any idea, and control over what it is doing, and why?

When a dictator wants to extend the status quo of total control forever, we understand it and call a dictatorship. But what if the elites that run such a quasi-democracy are doing, essentially, the same? What if it's working very well and even perfectly - for them, and there's neither a reason nor incentive for any change?

"Please note, the price of this (public) service has increased by xyz %. We accept all methods of payment".

When and if citizens have no clue and control over what's going on in the country, is it still a democracy? And will they think of it, and treat it as such, that is, literally, our "citizens power"?

Edited February 20, 2021 by myata

[Aristides]

Costs for the quarantine hotels are much lower than  $2000. The Toronto Alt and Airport Sheraton and Calgary Airport Marriott being used are charging between $300 and $400 a night including taxes, meals and security. 

When it comes to license fees, someone has to pay for the infrastructure and other services we use.

Our passport fees are not out of line with other countries. More expensive than some, less than others. Australians pay $310 for a ten year passport.

Not everything you have a right too is free.

Edited February 20, 2021 by Aristides

[myata]

5 hours ago, Aristides said:

Costs for the quarantine hotels are much lower than  $2000. The Toronto Alt and Airport Sheraton and Calgary Airport Marriott being used are charging between $300 and $400 a night including taxes, meals and security. 

When it comes to license fees, someone has to pay for the infrastructure and other services we use.

Our passport fees are not out of line with other countries. More expensive than some, less than others. Australians pay $310 for a ten year passport.

Not everything you have a right too is free.

The number was from a CBC story. OK though, if the regular rate for a room in those places is around $100 (and these days, full capacity is hardly expected) how has it risen up to 4 times? Do we eat for $100 a day? Does "security" cost $100? And what the remaining $100 for? BTW nothing seems to be less than $100 the moment "public service" magically touches it.

And call it, creatively "license fee renewal", on top of federal tax, provincial tax, municipal taxes, GST, excise and all the other taxes?

How do "other countries" relate to "reasonable" and "justifiable" in this country here?

The bureaucracy is certainly not free and not even close to. And why would its cost to the citizens ever go any lower? Like what would be the reason or incentive?

Edited February 20, 2021 by myata

[myata]

And of course the minister can go and discuss important diplomatic matters with the Dominican government.

And CEO and member of the board may get an exemption to visit family - 5 times in the US and 2 in a country with new variants. But always the regular joe will happily foot the bill for an appearance of a strong policy, two months after the strains arrived in the country. Because it works in general, understandably, with necessary exclusions and exemptions.