Liberals accuse Tories of scaring seniors about new fee to increase donations

TORONTO – Ontario’s Liberals accuse the Progressive Conservatives of trying to scare seniors into donating to the opposition party by claiming the government will impose a new fee for some driving tests.

The Tories sent out a release with the headline: “Why is Wynne targeting seniors,” which claims Premier “Kathleen Wynne is considering a new fee of $85 for many seniors who want to renew their driver’s licence.”

Tory officials say they based the claim on a leaked cabinet document in which various ministries suggested ways of increasing provincial revenues through fees and other charges without actually hiking taxes.

One proposal from the Ministry of Transportation was to add an $85 fee for drivers over age 65 who need to be retested after being convicted of a driving offence, and for people over age 80 seeking a commercial driver’s licence.

Transportation Minister Glen Murray says the document obtained by the Tories was only a draft, and the proposal for a new fee on senior drivers was rejected.

Murray says PC Leader Tim Hudak and the Conservative party are fear mongering “by targeting seniors with complete fabrications to solicit political donations.”

The Conservative release concludes: “We are working hard to fight Liberal attempts to raise your taxes. Please help us by donating $25 today.”