Over the past few days, we…

Over the past few days, we have witnessed alarming weather patterns causing havoc in the Gulf and the panhandle of Florida. This is but one of the many climate disruptions our planet is experiencing which, I and most of the scientific community believe are caused by human interference with the fragile homeostasis of the planet. We are part of a global ecosystem but have failed to attend to our interdependence upon and responsibility to it. Urgent action is required to make changes that might mitigate the horrors that will otherwise be faced by current and future generations of all species on Earth - shorter life expectancy, loss of outdoor habitability, retraction of economic and social gains achieved globally, loss of all the ocean's coral reefs and the resultant death of all fisheries upon which billions of people depend. The most recent IPCC report says we have twelve years to change or risk catastrophic climate shifts from which we will not be able to recover. Twelve years. That's it. Twelve.
In 2016, the Ontario Government undertook to mitigate some of the effects of human influence on climate change while proactively seizing on the financial opportunities available in growing a non-renewable energy sector. Ontario stood to gain financially both in its cap and trade agreements and in its growth of small and medium sized businesses capitalizing on the growing renewable energy sector. These steps were promising, though, for many, still considered too conservative or too late when consideration is paid to the critical challenges we will soon face. It is imperative that we hold onto the positive steps we have taken.
Even if individuals, communities, organizations, and businesses do not share the belief of the overwhelming majority of the Earth's population that we are the major cause of climate change, participating in economic stimulation for small and medium sized businesses that can still capitalize on the renewable energy sector is a smart thing to do. Even if you don't believe in the human cause of climate change, ensuring Ontario is set for growth in the renewable energy sector is a smart thing to do. Recognizing that all companies that have taken advantage of the exponential growth in the renewable sector (within the parameters of our trade agreements) have flourished is a smart thing to recognize and applaud. And all those things are good for Ontario.
So, too, is maintaining the cap and trade agreements we have already signed which have brought money into the province. Returning that money and paying the penalties associated with breaking contracts is not a good thing for Ontario. That is a grade three math problem solved pretty easily. Any politician can manage that a "this minus that = even less" equation and that's the equation that cancelling the cap and trade agreements looks like. It's not pretty.
Ontarians have a brave role to play in the future of climate activism in Canada and the world. The Conservative Government has a brave role to play as well. Supporting small and medium sized businesses; building an economy that is strong in the renewable energy sector; and pressing for similar action at the national and international level are all brave actions. Brave actions informed by science. Brave actions informed by concern for the future.