Toronto - Toronto restaurant and bar owners may want to raise a glass to David Miller.   The mayor is backing off the proposal to tax the sale of alcohol in the city.    The bottle tax was expected to bring in about 44 million dollars a year.

Miller liked the idea of a new alcohol tax but city staff say it’s just too complicated, they’re advising against it, and the mayor is willing to take that advise.

“I saw it as a tax on the Liquor Control Board of Ontario which is a provincial agency, but they argue their legislation says alcohol has to be the same price everywhere and they can’t impose the tax.   If we can’t do it, we can’t do it.”

Miller still has to deal with a 240 million dollar budget shortfall, he’s renewing his calls to both the federal and provincial governments to do their part to keep Toronto out of the red.

Miller wants help to finance the TTC, social services and one cent from the GST to help restore Toronto’s financial health.

Souce: cfrb