Iqaluit city council approves increase to vehicle disposal fee
The price of getting rid of an old vehicle in Iqaluit is increasing to $500 — twice as much as the current cost but less than was originally planned.
The change was approved last night, when Iqaluit city council passed the consolidated fees bylaw through third reading. Much of the discussion focused on whether to raise the cost of disposing old vehicles from $250 to $1000.
Several councillors, including Terry Dobbin, Kuthula Matshazi and Joanasie Akumalik, felt the jump in fees was too high and that residents were unlikely to pay it.
"I think the shift from $250 to $1000 is a drastic change for any fee," agreed deputy mayor Romeyn Stevenson.
"One thousand dollars is an extreme amount, although it is the cost [to the city]."
Stevenson proposed an amendment raising the fee to $500, which would mean the city will continue to subsidise the cost of vehicle removals for the time being.
Dealing with the real cost
That didn't sit well with councillor Megan Pizzo Lyall.
"The city's not being frivolous for asking people to pay the cost of shipping [vehicles] out," she said.
"Every single one of us, when we ran for council last year, said we were going to reduce the deficit. We are not going to reduce the deficit by not charging people what it costs to deal with [old vehicles]. I am ashamed of you guys," she said.
Despite the complaints, council approved the $500 amendment, which will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2017.
The Government of Nunavut has also talked about levying an $1080 import fee on vehicles coming into the territory. The idea being that the cost of removal would be paid up front and given to the city.
