Climate change is a real and…

Climate change is a real and pressing issue that we must face with immediate changes to how we handle our affairs. Recently, the UN declared we have roughly a decade to deal with climate change before the effects become truly non-reversible. We have already seen the effects of climate change in the form of increased summer heat, longer and more severe fire seasons in the Ontario and out west, more severe storms, and diminishing water supplies. Behind many of these environmental changes is increased carbon concentration in our atmosphere. The cap and trade program in Ontario is the major government supported incentive for companies to reduce their carbon production. The money from this program is reinvested in the Ontario public in ways that further help lower our collective carbon foot print. The system repays the money consumers might have to initially pay-out in the form of higher gas prices by lower the price of home retrofits, school improvements, and other environmental improvement initiatives. These initiatives also help the average consumer by lowering their energy bills, and the cost of updating public buildings that would otherwise be paid for by public taxes. The program has no accounted negative effects for the average citizen and has the potential to significantly reduces the province's carbon footprint. Ontario has the opportunity, here, to be a leader in addressing climate change in a very real and tangible way. The program should not be canceled. In fact, I would argue that the program should be increased to provide more benefits to the Ontario consumer from the money brought in through taxing carbon. If need be the act can be re-branded but it needs to remain in place for the protection of not just our province but for the benefit of the world. There are no other programs that cover the same issue so what would replace this program? This program has been something that we can be proud of. I like being proud of Ontario and do not want that taken away. There is no good outcomes for removing this program that come anywhere near the value of the program itself. Please keep this program in place for the good of those who elected you, and those who will be voting in generations to come.