Bill 98 will see Ontario go…

Bill 98 will see Ontario go backwards on climate policy.

Municipalities are already being hit hard by ice storms, droughts, flooding and extreme heat. These are forecast to only get worse. Cities should be in charge of their own greenhouse gas mitigation and climate adaption policies including municipal construction by-laws that set their own green building standards based on their often unique needs. Leave local green building standards such as the requirement for EV charging in new buildings in the hands of municipal governments.

Ottawa’s Official Plan designates specific land use categories where renewable energy facilities and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) can be located. Municipalities should continue to have control over the siting of renewables and energy storage as they are most aware of the issues and the demand.

Policies on greenhouse gas mitigation, climate adaptation, renewable energy and battery storage siting should be in the hands of municipalities that will be impacted by those decisions. Putting the decision-making in the remote hands of the provincial government is not the answer.

Ontario voters do not want to head in the wrong direction on this global threat.