Toronto City Council have approved a tax on billboards. The vote passed 29-12.
It's expected that the plan will generate $10.4 million in revenue annually.
It will be imposed starting in April.
Many activists had hoped that the money would be used specifically to target those who put up illegal billboards. Instead, the cash will go into the general revenue stream and be part of the city's budget.
Several organizations around the city have put their support behind the
levy and bylaw that would strongly regulate how big the
outdoor ads can be and where they are placed. The Beautiful City Alliance,
perhaps the largest group, says billboards are the only form of
advertising “where the viewer is not compensated for their attention
with educational or enjoyable content.”