Ontario should not only join…

Ontario should not only join but we should lead the global movement for renewable energy. We should go 100% renewable.

It does not make sense, from an economic, social and of course environmental perspective, for Ontario to be investing in anything but green energy. There are incredible investment opportunities in green energy which will provide great jobs for Ontarians. Jobs that we WANT rather than those that we HAVE to perform.

I think we need to do the following:

1. We need to divest from coal and nuclear energy and invest in green energy. Ontarians of all ages support the move to green energy.The ONLY people who do not support this move are the beneficiaries of non-renewable energy.  We are all worried not only about the world we live in and the long-term impacts it will have on our health but also the world we will leave to our children. I want to be a parent one day and I am terrified at the idea that my child will not get to see the same world that I see today. I am terrified that 2/3 of the species in the world are at a high risk of extinction. I am outraged by the fact that air, from BC, is being sold to people by the bottle.

2. Focus our efforts on reducing energy demand. This can be done through incentives, public education campaigns and, in terms of transportation, making quick and reliable public transportation available to everyone regardless of socio-economic status. One major way to reduce transport emissions it to make our commutes to work accessible via bicycles. We need safe bike lanes throughout our cities.

3. We need to have a holistic conservation plan. This is a top priority.

4. We need to quickly advance toward a low-carbon future. The environmental threats are imminent and they are real.

5. We need to encourage citizens and communities to become energy self-sufficient. For example, through providing further incentives for homeowners to add solar panels to their property.

6. We need to make our cities more livable. Our cities are currently based on consumption we need to change people's mindsets so that we value and enjoy our shared spaces as much as we do our private ones.

We do not need to make everyone rich but we can build our cities to make people feel dignified.

One final note, we cannot make these changes by eradicating our social welfare system. My partner and I are taxed at the highest tax bracket. I would pay even more if that money went to social services and environmentally sound policies. I know that many of my friends and colleagues would as well.

I know that the current government has been criticized for increasing the cost of utilities. I do not care about that. I also want you to know that I highly support some of your social policies. For example, I was very impressed with the changes proposed to the sex education programing.

But I was incredibly disappointed with your plans to sell Hydro One. I do not want economic prosperity where it comes with the eradication of workers' rights and social policies. I do not care about the value of the Canadian dollar if that value is liked to oil (which of course it has been often to a detrimental point).

I want to live in a province where my neighbours have a similar social network to me. I want to enjoy our parks  and not my growing bank account. I want to breath clean air and ride my bike safely to work.

I want to feel like my government is not being run by oil companies but by and for the people of Ontario.

[Original Comment ID: 206356]