Blue Box

Since 2004, "Blue Box" levies in Ontario have increased over 2,500 per cent. Ontario publishers are environmentally responsible, and are registered with and pay fees to Stewardship Ontario, and yet:

• The Government of Ontario has no mechanism to levy foreign companies
• Initiatives to identify "first importer" status, e.g. trying to levy foreign-based publishers through their Canadian-based wholesalers/distributors and mailers, have not worked
• As a result, US-based magazines (contributing majority volume) and Canadian wholesalers are currently receiving a free ride

Our Position: Ontario companies are paying for foreign companies.

In December 2008, Magazines Ontario submitted its recommendation to the Ontario Environment Minister's waste diversion discussion initiative.

Facts & Remedies (April 15, 2009)

Last Update: Friday, February 19, 2010

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