TORONTO -

As the holiday season gets into full swing, children with serious illnesses and their families traveling to Toronto for medical care will now have a “home away from home,” thanks in part to the donations of the city’s car dealers.

The Toronto Automobile Dealers Association recently celebrated the opening of what is said to be the largest Ronald McDonald House in the world, a children’s home to which TADA donated $2 million two years ago to help build.

The Ronald McDonald House Toronto held its grand opening earlier this month and sported a TADA “Gift of Life” Wing that specializes in organ and tissue donation for children in need.

RMH Toronto offers 96 bedrooms and a common kitchen, as well as room for a private school and programming geared toward children.

"To know the Toronto Automobile Dealers Association played a role in making the new Ronald McDonald House Toronto come to fruition is humbling. It truly is a source of endless pride for myself, and for all TADA members and their staff,” said TADA president Sandy Liguori.

Ron Loveys, the president of the Toronto Automobile Dealers Foundation – TADA’s charitable arm – had this to say: “All members of the Toronto Automobile Dealers Association and their staff can feel proud of our contribution to this outstanding charity. We can all take pride in knowing that families who need support and comfort will be in good hands at Ronald McDonald House Toronto.”

What’s more, officials noted that the $2 million pledge the foundation made back in 2009 is the largest it has ever made.

"The Toronto Automobile Dealers Association has been a generous and committed supporter of this project from the beginning,” Jane Marco, executive director of RMH Toronto.

“Together we’ve created a place for even more families to heal better together,” she added.

TADA Chimes in on Carbon Tax

In other news from the association, TADA came out earlier this week and urged MPPs to reject the calls for a new carbon tax on the family car.

The Task Force on Competitive, Productivity and Economic Progress has issued its 10th Annual Report and is proposing carbon tax to the Ontario government.

TADA wants this quashed, as it would be the fifth gas price tax in the province. The association emphasized that the Harmonized Sales Tax has already put an extra 8-percent per liter gas tax on drivers.

“MPPs should dismiss any calls for a new, punishing carbon tax on the family car. Drivers have been paying an extra 8 percent in taxes on gasoline since the introduction of the HST and can’t afford to pay five separate taxes just to fill up their car. The HST on gasoline is a carbon tax — with a different name,” said TADA director of government relations Frank Notte.

Citing Natural Resources Canada, TADA pointed out that Toronto’s average gas price was 122.9 cents/liter from Oct. 11 to Nov. 1. Thirty-two percent of that was taxes paid to the federal and provincial governments.

“Almost one-third of the price of gasoline goes straight to the government in taxes. A new carbon tax will be an unfair tax grab targeting the family car — which is a necessity for the vast majority of families to run their homes,” Notte added.